Morocco and Algeria have been at odds for decades, with the dispute over Western Sahara a central source of tension, according to DW. The conflict concerns sovereignty over the territory and remains unresolved, shaping relations between the two countries. DW also reports that the rivalry has expanded beyond Western Sahara, with competition and disagreement increasingly affecting other areas of regional interaction.
Across the period, Morocco and Algeria’s positions toward Western Sahara have contributed to a wider pattern of political and diplomatic friction. Beyond the specific territorial issue, the two states’ broader rivalry reflects differences in regional influence and alignment, with tensions playing out in areas that go beyond Western Sahara itself. While Western Sahara is presented as the main driver of the long-running dispute, the reporting highlights that the relationship is not limited to that question.
The overall picture is of sustained mistrust and competition, rooted in the Western Sahara dispute but increasingly sustained by wider geopolitical and regional considerations.
