France’s surprise Western Saharan gamble deals setback to Marxist Polisario Front

France’s surprise Western Saharan gamble deals setback to Marxist Polisario Front

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 9, 2024 PARIS — In what’s described as a thunderclap in French North African policy, the Paris government recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the long disputed Western Sahara, a region long contested by rival Algeria and a lingering subject of endless United Nations deliberations. In a deft and […]

How President Trump’s major Morocco-Israel diplomatic deal blindsided the black hats

How President Trump’s major Morocco-Israel diplomatic deal blindsided the black hats

Special to WorldTribune.com by John J. Metzler In another stunning breakthrough for Middle East peace, the Kingdom of Morocco has recognized Israel. The latest diplomatic deal was orchestrated in the waning weeks of the Trump Administration’s first term, but built upon September’s surprising Abraham Accords where three other Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, […]

Algerian spring? Key North African state faces critical transition

Algerian spring? Key North African state faces critical transition

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — For nearly two months, large popular demonstrations have rocked Algeria protesting the candidacy of incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who planned to run for a fifth five-year term in national elections. The protests evoked the so-called Arab Spring in which demonstrations and later armed revolts reverberated […]

Morocco cuts ties with Iran over Hizbullah support for Polisario Front

Morocco cuts ties with Iran over Hizbullah support for Polisario Front

by WorldTribune Staff, May 2, 2018 Morocco has severed diplomatic relations with Iran over its ties to an Algerian rebel group that seeks independence for Western Sahara. Morocco said the move was precipitated by Iran’s support for the Hizbullah terror organization, which Rabat claims has delivered weapons to the Polisario Front rebel group, AFP reported. […]

Who’s who: Vote tally on UN resolution slamming U.S. on Jerusalem

Who’s who: Vote tally on UN resolution slamming U.S. on Jerusalem

Special to WorldTribune , December 21, 2017 Yes: 128 No: 9 Abstain: 35 Y  AFGHANISTAN Y  DOMINICA Y  LITHUANIA SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE Y  ALBANIA A  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Y  LUXEMBOURG Y  SAUDI ARABIA Y  ALGERIA Y  ECUADOR Y  MADAGASCAR Y  SENEGAL Y  ANDORRA Y  EGYPT A  MALAWI Y  SERBIA Y  ANGOLA EL SALVADOR Y  MALAYSIA […]

Hamas asks Algeria to accept its leaders ousted by Qatar

Hamas asks Algeria to accept its leaders ousted by Qatar

by WorldTribune Staff, July 18, 2017 Hamas has approached Algeria about the possibility of replacing Qatar as the headquarters for the terror organization’s officials abroad, a report said. After Qatari authorities, saying they were driven by “external pressures,” decided to expel several Hamas members, the terror organization asked Algeria to take in some of its […]

The hellish barbarism spreading in the Mideast has arrived in France

The hellish barbarism spreading in the Mideast has arrived in France

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler PARIS — The recurring terrorist attacks which have plagued France seem to have no bounds nor mercy. The murder of a Catholic priest saying Mass in a church near Rouen by two Islamic State thugs brought the crisis to a new low. The daily Le Figaro headlined “Murdered […]

Leader of Western Sahara independence movement dies

Leader of Western Sahara independence movement dies

by WorldTribune Staff, June 1, 2016 The leader of the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara from Morocco, has died, Algeria’s APS news agency reported. Mohamed Abdelaziz, 69, died on May 31 “after a long illness,” the report said. Abdelaziz had been leader of the Algeria-backed Polisario Front since 1976. “This is a […]

U.S. backs UN measure to restore Western Sahara mission

U.S. backs UN measure to restore Western Sahara mission

Special to WorldTribune.com The United States is supporting a resolution to restore the UN mission in Western Sahara. The UN said the resolution addresses an “urgent need” to restore the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) after Morocco recently expelled 75 UN staffers. Morocco maintains that Western Sahara is an integral […]

From Arab winter to Persian spring?

From Arab winter to Persian spring?

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Five years after the onset of the pro-democracy revolts against authoritarian rulers in much of the Middle East, the heady warm breezes of the Arab Spring have been replaced with swirling ill winds sweeping the region from Tunisia to Iraq. Governments were toppled, chaos ensued, […]