Trade continues to steeply decline between the two Maghreb heavyweights, Morocco and Algeria. Since Algeria cut ties with Morocco in August 2021, this political decision was followed by a series of economic warfare measures that later backfired at Algiers. These one-sided measures worsened Algeria’s perception as an investment unfriendly country where political considerations easily spillover to hamper economic activity. Instead, Algeria’s support for the Polisario separatists seems to have blinded the military rulers to take self-defeating measures that have little impact on the Moroccan economy. Maghreb integration would remain a romantic dream pending realistic Algerian leaders who would break away with the zero-sum game to economic ties with Morocco in favor of a win-win relationship.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 21, 2024 12:46 UTC