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Morocco World
05-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Assets of Tebboune's Sons in France Face Potential Asset-Freezing Measures
Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune could face a new scandal amid reports on France's potential freezing of the assets of about 20 Algerian dignitaries. Mohamed Sifaoui, a French-Algerian investigative journalist, has revealed that two of Tebboune's sons, Mohamed and Khaleld, hold assets in France. Sifaoui made his remarks during an interview with Algerian journalist Abdou Semmar. During the interview published this week, the journalist claimed that while Tebboune may have no assets in France, his sons do. These assets could be seized and frozen by French authorities, which would see bilateral tensions escalate even further since the two countries started exchanging hostile diplomatic decisions in the aftermath of France's endorsement of Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. Sifaoui made several other revelations, including pointing out the abuse of power by the Algerian regime. He said that Mohamed Tebboune was entrusted by his father with a government advisory role despite his lack of experience. Mohamed Tebboune also has connections with Turkish businessmen, he suggested, adding that this would eventually land him in jail when his father's mandate ends. 'They own commercial properties, stock assets, etc. What we call financial assets in other words, wealth… both of them have assets in France,' the Algerian journalist said, noting that this is 'confirmed information.' The journalist slammed the Algerian president for criticizing France while his sons have financial holdings there, noting that he not only relies on information from government reports but also verifies and fact-checks information himself. 'That's why I haven't published it yet,' he said. 'I have the names and will probably publish them by the end of the week. But among those are the two sons of Abdelmadjid Tebboune.' Sifaoui and his interviewer then both launched into a debate about the hypocrisy of the Algerian ruling class, slamming Algeria's establishment for claiming to adopt an anti-French policy while their children and families hold active assets in France. This is not the only bombshell revelation Sifaoui made about the Algerian regime's involvement in similar scandals. Beyond the regime's interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, a new comprehensive investigation has shed light on clandestine operations allegedly orchestrated by the Algerian regime on French soil. Last month, French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche reported that, under President Tebboune, the Algerian government has been actively involved in a campaign to suppress opposition voices abroad. A senior French security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the news outlet, said: 'We possess reliable intelligence confirming that Algerian services did not act independently.' This includes attempts to abduct or intimidate prominent dissidents residing in France, such as YouTube r Amir DZ and journalist Abdou Semmar. Algeria and France have experienced political tensions for months. According to L'Express, France is now considering freezing the assets of several dignitaries of the Algerian regime. There have also been exchanges of hostile measures from both countries, including travel restrictions against officials from both sides. In recent years, both countries have taken measures to expel officials or made other similar measures. In May, diplomatic sources told AFP that Algeria was planning to expel more French officials. In response, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that ties between France and Algeria were 'completely frozen.' Tags: algeria and francerelations between Algeria and France
Morocco World
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Macron Read France's Sahara Recognition Letter to Tebboune Before Announcement
Doha – French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly read the letter recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune before its public release on July 30, 2024, according to Franco-Algerian journalist Mohamed Sifaoui. During an appearance on journalist Abdou Semmar's YouTube channel, Sifaoui revealed that Macron 'played total transparency' with Tebboune. 'Macron read the letter. I can certify that he read to him, during a one-on-one meeting, the letter that he was going to make public on July 30, 2024,' Sifaoui stated. The journalist criticized French officials' handling of relations with Algeria, particularly regarding the Western Sahara issue. 'Emmanuel Macron was wrong to trust Abdelmadjid Tebboune,' Sifaou said. 'He played the memory question game until the end, he was in his logic, he tested, and that's why there was this reversal of the French diplomatic position.' Sifaoui elaborated that French officials realized 'the Algerians – I'm talking about the Algerian regime – were making fun of them,' adding that 'it's always frustrating for someone who trusts you and realizes you're mocking them.' In the letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, the French president stressed that Paris' position is that 'the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.' Even before the official announcement, Algeria's Foreign Ministry had condemned France's decision as 'unexpected, untimely, and counterproductive.' The ministry claimed the move 'evidently stems from dubious political calculations, morally questionable preconceptions, and legal interpretations that have no basis and no justification.' The diplomatic tension reached a crescendo at the UN Security Council on October 31, 2024, when Algerian Ambassador Amar Ben Jamaa delivered what observers described as an unprecedented outburst, directly challenging both the United States and France over their support for Morocco's position. The diplomatic crisis has since intensified, with Algeria twice summoning the French ambassador to Algiers. President Tebboune is still seething over the decision. In a December 2024 speech, he attempted to discredit Morocco's autonomy initiative by claiming it was 'a French idea, not a Moroccan one.' In the same month, Algeria accused French intelligence services of 'hostile actions,' including alleged involvement in 'destabilizing activities' and 'attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Algeria.' The ambassador was summoned again in January over alleged 'discriminatory treatment' of Algerian citizens at Paris airports. In a recent interview with L'Opinion, President Tebboune escalated tensions further by declaring that the 'climate' between the two countries is 'toxic' and that 'we are wasting time with President Macron.' He revealed that he had warned Macron during a 2.5-hour meeting at the G7 Summit in Baru, saying 'You are making a serious mistake! You will gain nothing, and you will lose us.' Tebboune acknowledged that bilateral relations are now frozen, stating that 'nothing is moving forward except commercial relations. Political dialogue is nearly interrupted.' He accused French authorities of making 'hostile statements' against his country 'every day.' This diplomatic crisis comes as Morocco gains increasing international support for its position, with more than 110 countries now backing its autonomy plan for Western Sahara, including over 20 EU nations. Meanwhile, Algeria continues to support the Polisario Front's separatist claims, providing the group with financial support, weapons, and military training, yet finds itself increasingly isolated on the issue. Read also: Anger, Denial, and Headlong Rush: Algeria in the Eye of the Diplomatic Storm
