Tebboune and the Illusions of Victory over Spain: When Lies Become Official Policy

In a new media appearance that sparked a wave of ridicule and criticism, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune once again attempted to propagate unfounded political illusions, claiming that Algeria had forced Spain to change its position on the Moroccan Sahara issue. During a speech delivered on April 24, 2025, in Béchar, Tebboune alleged that Algeria’s economic sanctions had compelled Madrid to reverse its support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative — a claim with no diplomatic or economic evidence to back it.

What is strange is that Tebboune ignored the official statements of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who, just days before Tebboune’s speech, reaffirmed that the Moroccan autonomy proposal remains the most serious, credible, and realistic solution to the conflict over the Sahara — thus completely debunking the Algerian regime’s allegations. Since Spain’s announcement of its support for Morocco’s initiative in 2022, there has been no official backtracking; rather, Madrid has reiterated and strengthened its position on several occasions.

Economically, while Tebboune tried to portray Algeria as a force capable of twisting Spain’s arm, the facts tell a different story. Although trade relations between the two countries did experience some decline, particularly in the gas sector, Madrid quickly compensated for the shortfall through new agreements with partners like the United States and Nigeria. Consequently, Spain’s economy was not significantly impacted, while Algeria continues to struggle to find new markets in an increasingly competitive European energy landscape.

Observers believe that Tebboune’s statements reflect a desperate attempt to distract from the internal failures plaguing Algeria, whether economic or social. Surrounded by crises, the Algerian regime resorts to fabricating fictitious victories to divert public attention, even at the cost of tarnishing the country’s image internationally.

Domestically, Tebboune’s remarks were met with widespread sarcasm and rejection, even from prominent Algerian political figures such as activist Saïd Bensedira, who described the statements as damaging Algeria’s reputation on the world stage, asserting that Tebboune lives in a world of illusions far removed from reality.

Thus, once again, the Algerian regime finds itself trapped between a diplomatic reality that exposes its lies and a frustrated populace that no longer falls for outdated propaganda and misinformation campaigns.

Editorial Board.