Algeria, a top global wheat importer, has notably excluded France from its recent tender for wheat procurement, signaling escalating tensions between the two nations, Reuters reports. Historically, France has been a key supplier to Algeria, but the Algerian grains agency OAIC has now opted to source over 500,000 metric tons of wheat exclusively from non-French origins.
Traders indicated that French exporters were not invited to participate in this latest tender, and OAIC explicitly directed non-French suppliers to refrain from offering wheat originating from France. The OAIC has declined to comment traders suggest the move underscores the deepening rift in Franco-Algerian relations.
This week, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reinforced this strained dynamic, stating his intention to indefinitely suspend a long-delayed diplomatic visit to France.
At the heart of the discord lies the Western Sahara issue. In July, France officially backed Morocco's claim over the contested territory, a decision that has infuriated Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front, the group advocating for Western Sahara’s independence.
This exclusion of French wheat presents a lucrative opportunity for Russian wheat suppliers, who are poised to capture a larger share of Algeria's wheat import market amidst these shifting geopolitical alliances.
Morocco has introduced a draft revision of its family code, marking the first significant update in 20 years. The proposed
Interpol has issued a Yellow Alert (missing persons notice) for two young Irish boys abducted by their Egyptian father, BBC
Mauritanian media raised alarms over an incident last Friday involving an Algerian military patrol's unauthorized entry into Mauritania.
The US has greenlit arms sales exceeding $5.5 billion to Egypt and Morocco to enhance their defense capabilities and
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