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Popular Disgruntlement Despite Oil Billions
Washington, Oct.09-- As Morocco and Algeria keep playing checkers over the Western Sahara conflict, the social tension in Algeria is on the verge of explosion while Morocco’s poor keeps sinking deeper into poverty. As more than 100 protesters descended on the streets of the Diar Echams district of Algiers this week, the popular discontent of the Algerian people that started last summer continues. Along the same lines, Moroccan citizens have been holding frequent protests to condemn the “expensiveness of life” in Morocco.
While the Diar Echams protesters have been complaining about lack of affordable housing, the social malaise in Algeria is much deeper. A significant number of Algerian middle class citizens have seen their buying power drastically weakened as more professionals live in near poverty. Algeria, the third largest producer of gas with billions of dollars in oil revenues sitting in government safes- or the pockets of Algerian politicians and military officials-, cannot come up with sound economical policy to address structural deficiencies in its handling socio-economic issues that have been plaguing this North African country. It is a blatant case of governmental incompetence to have gas rich Algeria suffer from gas and electricity cuts.Since it took office for a third time, a Bouteflika III government has yet to produced blue prints of plans to handle a rampant unemployment and a severe shortage of affordable housings to mention few of the concerns that matter to the average citizens. In an amazing move showing the illicit enrichment of some privileged Algerians, the Algerian government decided to tax purchases of luxury yachts. Unbelievable as it may sound, there are Algerians that own yachts while others of their countrymen cannot find a small dwelling so to be able to get married and have a family and a life.
Another solemn sign of social desperation among young Algerians, Morocco is no longer alone in suffering from the phenomenon of illegal maritime crossing between the two sides of the Mediterranean. The rising number of young Algerians taking to the sea and dying during desperate voyages to cross “illegally” to Europe is alarming and must be tackled by the Algerian government .
The social malaises facing the Algerians are far similar to the ones bogging their neighbors to the west. However, Moroccans never view social unrest in Algeria as a sign of a weak Algeria. Moroccans in general, including the official and independent press, do not dwell on the misfortunes of the average Algerian. Unlike the mean-spirited manner in which major Algerian newspapers covered the Sidi Ifni riots in Morocco, Moroccans are more sensitive to glow over mishaps in Algeria. Rabat is well aware that riots in Algiers may inspire troubles in Casablanca.
Algiers is not alone in facing popular disgruntlement; Oran, Tizi Ouzou and Annaba are few of the Algerian cities that have been a theatre of civil disobedience in recent weeks. As the unrest continues in Algeria, Moroccans officials have been trying to contain the restlessness of the masses in their backyard. Again, proof that Moroccans and Algerians are sailing into the same storm, just riding in different ships.
For some brainless reasons, several Algerian newspapers believe in the motto: a negative coverage of Morocco makes Algeria look good. Some Algerian “journalists” continue to fish for bad news items on Morocco to be used as a propaganda tool to justify the deteriorating social conditions in Algeria.
The Algerian readers, obviously, are much smarter than their journalists. The average Algerian is well aware that Morocco has no nothing to do with shortage of housing all over Algeria, or frequent electric and water cuts, or the rise in the number of shantytowns in the Capital Algiers. Morocco may suffer of some of these afflictions, but it does not project its problems in a regional context.
The issue of the Western Sahara is always lurking in the background when it comes to Algeria’s press coverage of Morocco. If the Algerian government insists in spending millions of Dollars on the Polisario and its Sahara expansive adventure instead of helping the needy in Algeria, so be it.
As much as some Algerians, writing from the comfort of their home in Paris, London or Montreal, refuse to admit, the future of Morocco and Algeria is intertwined in many ways. Some, only some, intellectuals in the Algerian Diaspora continue to view and portray Morocco as an adversary that Algeria must compete against. Surely, Moroccans, and by large, do not share this unfortunate feeling.
The prosperity of the people of North Africa will never be achieved without economical assimilations and political unison among the five states of the region. This economic integration can only be attained, if and only if the peoples of the region ask for it. This union, if it ever sees the light of the day, will come about as a result of pure economic pressures and not a product of the usual archaic political speeches of “brotherhood”.
For now, Algiers continues to be a powder keg that can explode anytime. Moroccan officials are nervously watching, while the average Moroccan, deep down, views the rioters of Diar Echams as heroes for the underprivileged in Morocco and Algeria. Diar Echams, Algiers, is much more closer to Sidi moumen, Casablanca , than the Algerian Generals would like to admit. Let’s hope things do not go out of hand. And as a start, the Algerian government should use the millions of dollars that were earmarked for the “propaganda” budget to advertise for the incoming week of solidarity with the Sahrawi people, to address the housing needs of some of the Diar Echams families that number more than 10poeple and live in one room.
About the Author
Hassan Masiky is a native of Kenitra, Morocco. He graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with a degree in political science in 1991. Upon graduation, Hassan joined the Washington DC based non government organization the Parliamentary Human Rights Foundation (PHRF) where he worked as a consultant for USAID democracy projects in Mexico, Haiti, Republic of Georgia and the European Parliament. After leaving PHRF, Hassan dedicated his time advising Amnesty International USA on African and Middle Eastern affairs and representing the organization in press conferences. Mr. Masiky was a host on several television shows discussing human rights and democracy.