During a sharp diplomatic confrontation at the United Nations Regional Seminar of the Committee of 24 in Dili, Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilal displayed Morocco’s steadfastness and boldness in responding to Algeria, which accused Rabat of “targeting” it regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue.
Hilal stood firm, directly confronting the accusations and affirming that Algeria is the main party in the conflict, rather than merely an observer as it claims. He stated to the audience that Morocco did not attack but unveiled well-known facts for which the Algerian regime is responsible. He posed clear questions: Who created the Polisario? Who hosts its leadership? Who finances it and leads its international campaigns? The answer, he emphasized, is Algeria each time.
The Moroccan official accused Algeria of spreading chaos in the Maghreb and Sahel regions, warning that its policies have paved the way for the expansion of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Africa. He asserted that its support for separatist movements not only threatens Morocco’s unity but also destabilizes the entire continent.
Hilal concluded his remarks with a firm response to Algeria’s discourse on the “right to self-determination,” urging the Algerian authorities to apply this principle domestically to the Kabyle people, who have been demanding it since before the establishment of the Algerian state.
Hilal’s speech reflected a confident and aggressive diplomatic stance, transforming the discussion into a public trial of Algeria’s role in fueling separatism and terrorism, and placing its delegation in a defensive position before the international community.
