Between Algeria and Morocco, there is often talk in the press, especially of military competition. Algeria, seeking entry to the Atlantic through the creation and support of a puppet republic. Morocco, seeking by all means to recover its territorial unity and establish its sovereignty. But few analyzes have dealt with the other war that the two countries are waging on the international scene, that of soft power, which could be translated into French as a mixture of successes in esteem, positive images and influencing skills.
In this war, Morocco is winning all along the line. Starting with the last international event, that of the great oral on human rights before the United Nations in Geneva.
Algeria appeared through a hideous image, of systematic violations of human rights, of political leaders who lie as they breathe, who manipulate terrorism for political ends. While Morocco, complimented by many countries and organizations, appeared on a positive dynamic that builds, experience and irreversible gains. The icing on the cake, in full international congratulations on human rights, was added another acclamation from Morocco on its positive ecological role and its investments in clean energies.
The images of the two countries are in total contrast. Chinese shadows that indicate two different realities. While Morocco, through its actions, imposes itself as a power of peace, tolerance, restraint, moderation and positive constructions, that of Algeria embodies the preeminence of violence, destabilization and chaos. .
And even when the Arab League recently gave him the opportunity to break this cliché, his political DNA, nourished by ruptures and atavistic tensions, came to the surface to give birth to a spectacular failure of an Arab summit that everyone has already forgotten.
Both on tourism and on the economy, the two countries are making parallel progress. While Algeria shows on a daily basis an allergy to foreign tourists, accentuating the feeling of confinement and withdrawal, Morocco, a country of openness and tolerance, welcomes the whole world by the millions. Algeria, land of the unknown and misadventure. Morocco, land of welcome and openness.
And while the Algerian economic fabric scares away the most militant investments, that of Morocco designs, catches, integrates and digests the juiciest and most structuring international contracts.
Large international companies perceive Algeria as an economic desert with multiple complications in the hands of an economic-military mafia with no other ambitions than those of “retrocommission strategies”. While they perceive Morocco as a country where they can invest with confidence and make profits with a strong and credible state and responsible economic actors.
In terms of political institutions, there is no comparison between the two experiences. On the one hand, a secular monarchy with regular elections and political alternations and a freedom of expression whose margin widens over time. On the other, a military regime, without past or memory, which tries to regenerate itself under multiple civilian faces and whose heart of the reactor is composed of a military authoritarianism of another age. A deathbed for the so-called independent press which sees its titles, one after the other, shut down due to pressure of all kinds and the denial of all freedoms.
In terms of the war against terrorism, Morocco is clearly identified by the international community as a major and active player in this fight against terrorist organizations.
While the Algerian regime is regularly pointed out by Western capitals for its troubled game and its dangerous links with armed terrorist militias, particularly in the Sahel and in the Sahara region.
The Algerian political experience remained frozen on the model of the militarized republics of the 60s and 70s. Because she lives in isolation, curled up, unable to establish an intelligent relationship with her international environment, time has had no positive effect on her development. Even if the Hirak, a civil rebellion for the fundamental rights of Algerians had tried to move the lines, the only response was repression.
In Morocco, it is possible to demonstrate peacefully to express an opinion and political ideas. In Algeria, it is strictly forbidden to demonstrate. Any exit of the Algerians in the street is perceived by the military mode of Algiers as a vital threat for its existence.
Ironically, while the Algerian regime wants to sell an image internationally as a champion of the defense of the Palestinian question, it prohibits any popular demonstration by Algerians in support of the Palestinians. Blatant schizophrenia.