Mohammed VI sent a representative to attend, but Algeria declined the invitation

The 80th anniversary of the Provence landings was supposed to honor North African fighters but instead exposed current diplomatic tensions. The absence of King Mohammed VI and Algeria’s refusal to attend highlighted the failure of France’s diplomatic strategy in the region.

On August 15, 2024, France will commemorate 80th Anniversary of the Provence LandingThis was a major event of the Second World War, marking the beginning of the liberation of southern France. The emotional and solemn ceremony took place at the Brouillisse National Cemetery in Saint-Raphaël, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and numerous foreign dignitaries. Note that Dean Paul Biya, President of Cameroon since 1982, sat on the chair, next to French President Emmanuel Macron. However, there were two notable absences from the event: King Mohammed VI of Morocco and a representative from Algeria.

The double absence was a bitter defeat for the Elysee Palace, which appears to have abandoned its traditional Algerian ally in favor of a reconciliation with Morocco, which did not even deign to send its monarch. France’s new diplomatic strategy in the regionit strives to reconcile its interests with historical sensitivities and current geopolitical issues.

Morocco’s top representatives, but no king

However, among the distinguished guests was the head of the Moroccan government, Aziz Akhannouch, who represented King Mohammed VI. In a statement to the press, Mr. Akhannouch stressed the importance of this commemoration in memory of the African soldiers, especially the Moroccan soldiers, who fought side by side with the Allies for the freedom of France. My presence at this ceremony on behalf of His Majesty the King is all the more significant because many brave Moroccan soldiers participated in the liberation of France during the Second World War, alongside their French and African comrades.“, he said.

King Mohammed VI, although represented in his absence by the head of his government, also caused some problems, especially in France and Morocco recently reached a settlement on the Western Sahara issue.

Algeria rejects invitation

The absence of Algerian representatives from this commemoration was particularly noted, given the key role played by Algeria in the Provence landings of 1944. At the Elysée Palace, the awkward atmosphere on the eve of the ceremony was palpable, and we confirmed that Algerian dignitaries were indeed invited, but they declined the invitation.

This decision speaks volumes about the state of relations between Paris and Algiers, which have been particularly strained since the Western Sahara crisis. Ambassador to France Said MoussiIn a press release, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the No other French government before him had ever seen the need to cross”, referring to France’s support for Morocco’s position on the Western Sahara issue.

Following the tensions, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s visit to France, which had been postponed several times and was finally scheduled for the end of September, could be definitively canceled.

Algeria’s forgotten contribution

Algeria’s absence from the commemoration is even more regrettable The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3rd DIA) played a key role in the liberation of southern France in 1944The 3rd DIA was formed in 1942 as part of the African Army and was composed mainly of Algerian volunteer soldiers. She served particularly well in the liberation struggles of Toulon and Marseille, showing extraordinary courage and determination.

This major Algerian contribution to the liberation of France is often unknown or minimized in the historical record. The absence of Algerian representatives from the commemorations highlighted not only current diplomatic tensions but also the ongoing difficulties in fully acknowledging the role of colonial forces in French history.

The commemorations of the Provence landings this year therefore took on a special dimension, highlighting the shared history between France and its former colonies in contemporary diplomatic issues. The absence of King Mohammed VI and the Algerian representative highlighted the ongoing complexity of relations between France and the Maghreb countries.