The tone has changed—and there is nothing spontaneous about this sudden “moderation.” Long accustomed to fiery rhetoric and rigid postures, Abdelmadjid Tebboune now appears to be adopting a more measured stance on the Sahara issue. This shift is neither the result of diplomatic enlightenment nor a late awakening to realism, but rather the consequence of mounting international pressure that has become impossible to ignore.
Faced with Washington’s determination to bring an end to this long-standing conflict, the Algerian leadership is showing clear signs of unease. By acknowledging that the UN-led process is “moving forward,” Tebboune implicitly admits the strategic deadlock in which the military regime has trapped itself. Behind this cautious wording lies a far less comfortable truth: Algiers is no longer in control.
For decades, the Sahara issue has served as both a domestic political tool and a geopolitical distraction for a system running out of momentum. Unwavering support for the Polisario Front, rigid narratives, and resistance to change have ultimately contributed to Algeria’s growing isolation on the international stage. Today, that outdated framework is collapsing, forcing the regime to recalibrate its discourse under direct U.S. pressure.
The recent visit of Christopher Landau only reinforced this reality. The American message is unequivocal: it is time to put an end to an anachronistic conflict. In Rabat, Washington reaffirmed its clear support for Moroccan sovereignty, while in Algiers, the tone shifted to one that was firmer—almost directive.
In this context, the Algerian regime’s diplomatic maneuvers increasingly resemble desperate attempts to buy time. Behind carefully crafted statements, authorities are trying to maintain appearances while avoiding direct confrontation with a U.S. administration now determined to impose a resolution.
However, this strategy of delay is reaching its limits. Calls for concessions are multiplying, including from the United Nations, where envoy Staffan de Mistura is urging all parties to move forward concretely. Even the role and mandate of MINURSO are now under scrutiny, highlighting that the status quo is no longer sustainable.
Even more telling are the increasing pressures surrounding the Tindouf camps, long considered a tightly controlled sphere of Algerian influence. Once again, the regime finds itself on the defensive, forced to respond to demands it can no longer simply dismiss.
This shift in Tebboune’s tone is therefore not a voluntary evolution, but an implicit admission of weakness. Trapped in its own contradictions, the Algerian leadership is being compelled to confront a geopolitical reality it has long refused to accept.
Ultimately, this turn reflects less a diplomatic breakthrough than a forced retreat. And behind this façade of “realism,” an entire system appears to be wavering, caught up in the consequences of its own long-standing impasses.
Abderrazzak Boussaid / Le7tv