Party SG files complaint before Arab Broadcasting Union against Algerian media's 'hostile campaign'

Mohamed Ouzzine, the Secretary-General of the Popular Movement Party, wrote a letter to the President of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) in Tunisia, expressing his discontent with “the hostile campaign” carried out by Algerian media against the Kingdom of Morocco.

He condemned the “unacceptable practices” through which the Algerian public media targets Morocco with its radio and television against the backdrop of a purely sports event, the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

In the absence of a relevant Algerian body responsible for upholding public media ethics and regulations, like the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication in Morocco, Ouzzine said he reached out to the President of ASBU to seek his “intervention in ending this recurring and persistent absurdity”.

“Everyone has witnessed the Algerian public radio and television launching a vehement campaign against the Kingdom of Morocco and its symbols during a continental sports event that should ideally strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, love, and cooperation among nations,” said Ouzzine.

However, the Algerian media went to great lengths, employing derogatory terms such as “the politics of hyenas disguised as lions” and “accusations of Moroccan (Makhzan) interference in African arbitration,” complained the Secretary-General of the Popular Movement Party.

He added that “there was an attempt to turn public opinion in Africa against the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, turning it into a chronic crisis in the Algerian media.”

If limited to social media, the hostility between Morocco and Algeria could have been reluctantly accepted as a result of a contrived political dispute, said Ouzzine. However, using official media “to reach this severity is unacceptable and must not be tolerated in any form.”

“It is crucial to address this issue to curb the spread of division and animosity between the two brotherly nations,” underscored the Secretary-General of the Popular Movement Party.

He urged the Arab States Broadcasting Union to promptly address this issue before the Executive Office for Emergency Affairs to find appropriate solutions for this pressing matter and make necessary decisions.