Spanish Politicians Urge PM Sanchez to Rebuild Ties with Algeria Amid Rising Immigration Concerns

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | September 5th, 2024 — The relationship between Algeria and Spain has become a central issue in political discussions on the Iberian Peninsula, particularly concerning the persistent challenge of illegal immigration. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is under mounting pressure from various political factions, who criticize his perceived inability to effectively engage with Algerian authorities to resolve lingering diplomatic disputes and to stem the growing influx of illegal migrants arriving on Spanish shores. This issue persists despite existing agreements between Madrid and Rabat.

A recent appeal for action emerged from the Balearic Islands’ local government, a region significantly impacted by migration due to its proximity to Algeria’s western coast. The Balearic government has called on Prime Minister Sanchez to adopt a more assertive diplomatic approach towards Algeria, stressing that Spain will struggle to find a sustainable solution to the ongoing problem of illegal immigration without the cooperation of the Algerian government.

During a press conference following a government council meeting, Antoni Costa, the official spokesperson for the Balearic government, voiced these concerns. He questioned whether Sanchez had established any meaningful contact with Algeria, suggesting that the lack of engagement was exacerbating the migration crisis. Costa expressed alarm that the number of illegal migrants arriving in the Balearic Islands in 2024 has already surpassed the figures from the same period in 2023, with 2,500 migrants compared to 2,200 the previous year.

The Balearic government, as reported by Europa Press, criticized the Sanchez administration for its inaction, accusing it of doing “absolutely nothing” to prevent illegal immigration networks from exploiting the North Africa-Balearic route. Costa further accused Sanchez of making grand statements without implementing concrete measures to address the situation.

Illegal immigration remains a deeply divisive issue in Spain, and it played a crucial role in the Spanish government’s controversial decision to align more closely with Morocco in early 2022. This policy shift followed a crisis in May 2021 when Morocco allowed around 10,000 sub-Saharan migrants to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, triggering a major diplomatic rift. In response, Sanchez’s government made significant concessions to the Moroccan regime, including altering Spain’s long-standing position on the Western Sahara conflict by supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for the region.

However, more than two years after these concessions, the situation has deteriorated. The anticipated reduction in migrant flows has not materialized, with numbers continuing to rise—not only through the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla but also via new routes, including those leading to the Balearic Islands.

This ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for a recalibration of Spain’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to Algeria, whose cooperation is increasingly viewed as essential for effectively managing migration and addressing broader geopolitical tensions in the region.

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