Is Morocco seeking regional unity, or hegemony over its neighbors?

In his recent blog entry, "Mercenaries in Libya: Gadhafi's Hired Terrorists," long-time Moroccan lobbyist Edward Gabriel is characteristically fast and loose with his “facts,” and seems more intent on inflaming passions between Morocco and Algeria than promoting the kind of Maghreb unity that the Government of Morocco publicly espouses. In his effort to fuel the Moroccan propaganda machine, Gabriel makes a series of baseless claims premised upon his assertion that Algeria is supporting Moammar Gadhafi against NATO and the Libyan resistance. Such allegations cannot go unchallenged.

Gabriel’s assertions to the contrary, NATO itself has made no statements indicating that the Government of Algeria is backing Gadhafi against NATO and the insurgency, and I challenge him to produce such evidence. Ironically, while on the one hand professing to desire closer relations with its neighbors in the Maghreb, on the other hand Morocco persists in paying lobbyists like Gabriel to “stir the pot” by making such specious allegations. Algeria has protested against such false claims in the past, and will continue to do so.  

In accordance with its longstanding position of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, Algeria has publicly stated that it does not take sides in the Libyan conflict, that it scrupulously abides by the U.N. Security Council resolutions pertaining to Libya, and that, like many, including NATO, it favors a political solution to the Libyan crisis. 

Let’s look more closely at the facts.  Gabriel claims that Algeria voted against the Arab League decision to support a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya. He is wrong. The Arab League decision was adopted by consensus – by all its members.  Moreover, Algeria immediately thereafter expressed its commitment to abide by U.N. Resolution 1973, which established a no-fly zone over Libya, and scrupulously did so.  

Gabriel also alleges that 15 Algerians were caught by Libyan rebels. This might be accurate – but even if it were, it would convey nothing about the Government of Algeria’s stance towards Libya. Mercenaries from African countries frequently travel across the continent to fight in other nations’ wars, but such individual activities by no means represent their home governments’ foreign policies. Would Gabriel maintain that a captured Moroccan reflected Rabat’s support for Gadhafi? 

The crisis in Libya is serious, and demands the attention of both the international community and mature regional leaders. Using the crisis as a pretense upon which to attack a neighbor that is working in good faith to address the situation is irresponsible and raises serious questions regarding Morocco’s true regional interests.

This letter was written by Gare Smith on behalf of the Algerian Government, a client of Foley Hoag LLP