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What is behind the rivalry between Morocco and Algeria?

2026-08-13 19:03:06Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA KERSTEN KNIPP
What is behind the rivalry between Morocco and Algeria?
The border between Morocco and Algeria

Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been fraught with tension for decades. Today, more is at stake. The mass arrival of Moroccan immigrants in Ceuta has further inflamed the rivalry.

On 20 July 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez travelled to Algeria for talks. The aim of the meetings with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieba was to finally overcome the diplomatic crisis between the two countries, which erupted in 2022 over the conflict over Western Sahara, and to redefine their relations. At the time, Spain, to Algeria's displeasure, supported Morocco's proposal for autonomy for the region as the best solution to the conflict.

Whether Spain's rapprochement with Algeria has angered Morocco so much that Rabat, despite significantly improved relations with Spain in recent years, has allowed tens of thousands of migrants to try to cross the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta remains debatable. The Spanish daily El País hinted at the possibility of such a connection in late July.

“The tensions in Ceuta coincide directly with Pedro Sánchez’s trip to Algeria, a country that is a regional rival of the Alawite kingdom,” the commentary says. A few lines later, a warning: “Any attempt to once again use migration as a tool of pressure is unacceptable.”

A spokesman for the Moroccan Interior Ministry denied the allegations. According to Rachid El Khalfi, "malicious misuse" of social media, misleading information and misinterpretations of a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court were responsible for the attack on Ceuta. Experts interviewed by DW also believe that Morocco did not deliberately provoke the mass crossing of the border.

Deep-rooted rivalry

Despite the recent crisis, the mutual accusations point to a deep-rooted rivalry between Algeria and Morocco. At the heart of the conflict is the status of Western Sahara, which began with Spain's withdrawal in 1975. While Morocco considers the territory an inalienable part of its territorial integrity and seeks international recognition, Algeria supports the Polisario movement and Western Sahara's right to self-determination.

According to a study by the Spanish Network for Research on International Security and International Relations (UNISCI), the conflict over Western Sahara has long been a symbol of the deeper rivalry between Algeria and Morocco for political leadership in the Maghreb. Both countries perceive the success of the rival side as their strategic defeat. Since the conflict is also closely linked to the internal political legitimacy of both regimes – in Morocco, with territorial integrity, while in Algeria, with the self-perception of an anti-colonial state – reaching a compromise is becoming increasingly difficult.

“The conflict over Western Sahara has developed into a struggle for regional hegemony in the Maghreb,” the analysis says. The tensions have blocked the economic integration of North Africa into a single space for decades. Institutions such as the Arab Maghreb Union have become largely dysfunctional, while joint economic and security projects have barely made any progress. As a result, the entire region is losing economic dynamism and international relevance.

Relations with Israel

The rivalry gained more weight in 2020 with the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, after which Israel recognized Moroccan claims to Western Sahara.

"Algeria has seen the increasingly close relations between Israel and Morocco as a threat to its own security," according to an analysis by the International Crisis Group (ICG).

At the heart of Algerian concerns is not so much the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, but the possibility of permanent military and intelligence cooperation, which could disrupt the regional balance of power to Algeria's detriment.

The ICG analysis describes the relationship between the two states as a classic security dilemma: both countries see their own military and foreign policy moves as defensive, but perceive the other side’s moves as threatening. This creates a spiral of increasing armaments, deterrence, and distrust, even though neither government has an immediate interest in open war.

It is precisely this logic that makes the conflict particularly dangerous, as even minor incidents or miscalculations can cause an unwanted escalation.

Relations with Europe

The rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has long been not limited to the issue of Western Sahara. The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) describes it as a competition for international partners and political influence, in which Europe has become an important fulcrum.

Both countries seek to emphasize their strategic importance to the European Union, using different foreign policy advantages. Morocco presents itself as a key partner in the areas of migration, the fight against terrorism and economic cooperation, while Algeria emphasizes its role as an energy supplier and its influence on security in the Maghreb and Sahel countries.

In this way, relations with the European Union also become part of the Moroccan-Algerian rivalry for regional influence and international support./ DW


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