Sahara: Madrid says its position remains unchanged belying Tebboune’s fictitious remarks

Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Madrid’s firm support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara under its sovereignty,belying the recent misleading statement of Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune claiming that Spain has backtracked on its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.

In his latest interview with local media outlets,Tebboune said “Spain made a mistake and today it corrected it”,making reference to the diplomatic crisis between Algiers and Madrid over the Sahara,a crisis which ended with a humiliating defeat for the delusional Algerian regime.

Irked by Spanish backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara,Algeria had recalled its ambassador from Spain and tried to exert economic pressure on Madrid to force it change its position,but Spain remained firm.

However,Tebboune falsely claimed his country won the economic showdown with Spain,alleging that the Government of Pedro Sanchez was forced to backtrack over fear of losing €7 billion in trade with Algeria,which in fact also suffered serious loss from its commercial war with Spain.

Tebboune’s remarks leave several experts puzzled wondering whether he is a pathological liar; delusional; deliberately deceptive; or,as many on social media are sarcastically saying the 80-year-old president is mentally incapacitated as a result of his serious Covid-19 related illness.

Few days ago,Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares reiterated Madrid support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative describing it as “the most serious,realistic and credible basis for the resolution” of the regional dispute over the Sahara.

Albares made by the remarks at a joint press conference held in Madrid with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita following the UN Security Council closed consultation meeting on the Sahara.