Aḥmad ʿAṭṭaf Returns to Algeria Empty-Handed After a Lackluster European Tour
In a mission that seemed crucial for Algerian foreign policy, Foreign Minister Aḥmad ʿAṭṭaf made a tour to Sweden and Finland, primarily aimed at garnering support for Algeria’s stance regarding the Western Sahara conflict.
However, the results were disappointing and reflected the incapacity of Algerian diplomacy to keep pace with Morocco’s rising momentum in Europe.
Moves Without Gains
Aḥmad ʿAṭṭaf arrived in Stockholm on April 23, where he met with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. The meeting did not produce any official statement supporting Algeria’s position on Western Sahara. The joint statement focused solely on aspects of bilateral cooperation without addressing the contentious regional issues.
Sweden’s disregard for the file was not surprising. In May 2022, the former foreign minister had declined to host a delegation from the Polisario Front, effectively ending a phase of traditional sympathy that certain leftist factions in Sweden had shown towards the group’s demands.
In Stockholm, ʿAṭṭaf also visited the Olof Palme Foundation, named after the late socialist figure who was historically supportive of liberation causes. However, this visit remained symbolic and did not influence the political outcomes of the tour.
Finland Continues to Support Morocco
From Sweden, ʿAṭṭaf moved to Helsinki, where he held a working session with Finnish Foreign Minister Elena Valtonen. The official statement from the Algerian Foreign Ministry discussed friendship relations and mechanisms for economic cooperation, without any mention of the Western Sahara issue.
This omission was not coincidental. Finland reiterated its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative in August 2024, considering it a "serious and realistic basis" for resolving the conflict. Helsinki clearly reaffirmed this position during Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita’s visit a few months earlier.
Media Silence and Limited Outcomes
Upon returning to Algeria, ʿAṭṭaf received little media coverage. There were no press conferences or triumphant statements. Even the official Algerian media and those close to the Polisario maintained silence, indicating the limited results of the visit.
In contrast, Morocco continued to enhance its international positions. Bourita’s recent tour in Europe yielded supportive stances from the United States, France, Spain, Estonia, Hungary, Moldova, and Croatia, all of which reaffirmed their support for the autonomy initiative proposed by Rabat in 2007.
Diplomatic Changes Corner Algeria
ʿAṭṭaf’s tour fails to conceal a gradually solidifying political reality: Algeria finds itself diplomatically isolated on the Western Sahara file. European positions are clearly shifting in favor of Morocco, driven by economic interests, security alliances, and ongoing American and French pressures.
This shift is not limited to major capitals. Even the Scandinavian countries, which have been less involved in the conflict, are now leaning towards supporting the Moroccan initiative.
