Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been fraught with tensions for decades. Today, even more is at stake. The mass arrival of Moroccan migrants in Ceuta has further inflamed the rivalry.
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On July 20, 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to Algeria for talks.
The aim of his 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 because of the conflict over Western Sahara, and to redefine their relations.
At the time, Spain, to Algeria’s displeasure, backed Morocco’s proposal for autonomy for the region as the best solution to the conflict.
Whether Spain’s rapprochement with Algeria angered Morocco so much that Rabat, despite significantly improved relations with Spain in recent years, allowed tens of thousands of migrants to attempt to cross the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta remains open to debate. The Spanish daily El País alluded to the possibility of such a link in late July.
“The tensions in Ceuta directly coincide with Pedro Sánchez’s trip to Algeria, a country that is a regional rival of the Alaouite kingdom,” the commentary said.
A few lines later came a warning: “Any attempt to once again use migration as a tool of pressure is unacceptable.”
A spokesperson for the Moroccan Interior Ministry rejected the accusations. According to Rachid El Khalfi, the “malicious misuse” of social media, misleading information and misinterpretations of a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court were responsible for the rush on Ceuta.
Experts interviewed by DW also believe that Morocco did not deliberately provoke the mass border crossing.
Deep-Rooted Rivalry
Despite the latest 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, a dispute that 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 Research Network on International Security and International Relations (UNISCI), the conflict over Western Sahara has long symbolized the deeper rivalry between Algeria and Morocco for political leadership in the Maghreb. Each country perceives the rival side’s success as its own strategic loss. Because the conflict is also closely tied to the domestic political legitimacy of both regimes—in Morocco, to territorial integrity, and in Algeria, to its self-perception as 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 said. For decades, tensions have prevented North Africa’s economic integration into a single area. Institutions such as the Arab Maghreb Union have become largely dysfunctional, while joint economic and security projects have made barely any progress. As a result, the entire region is losing economic momentum and international importance.
Relations with Israel
The rivalry gained greater significance in 2020 with the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, after which Israel recognized Morocco’s claims to Western Sahara.
“Algeria has viewed 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 Algeria’s concerns is not so much the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, but the possibility of permanent military and intelligence cooperation that could upset the regional balance of power to Algeria’s detriment.
The ICG analysis describes relations between the two states as a classic security dilemma: both countries regard their own military and foreign policy moves as defensive but perceive the other side’s actions as a threat.
This creates a spiral of armament, deterrence and growing mistrust, even though neither government has an immediate interest in open warfare.
It is precisely this logic that makes the conflict particularly dangerous, as even minor incidents or miscalculations could trigger an unintended escalation.
Relations with Europe
The rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has long ceased to be confined 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 focal point.
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 migration, counterterrorism and economic cooperation, while Algeria highlights 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
