Report: Algeria cancels Spanish FM visit after Albares refuses talking about Sahara

Iberian news outlet El Confidencial reported that Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares’ planned state visit to Algeria was scrapped at the last minute due to his refusal to engage in discussions around the Western Sahara.

Citing sources familiar with the preparation of the aborted trip, the Spanish news outlet reported that “Minister Albares informed his Algerian counterparts beforehand that he intended to be involved in talks only on topics related to bilateral issues.”

He specifically wanted to avoid discussing the Sahara file if the conversation turned to regional problems.

The same source added the Spanish diplomat requested to know in advance what his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf would say regarding the Sahara during their planned joint press conference. However, the Algerian side refused to provide him with Attaf’s answers in advance.

As a result, President Tebboune refused to meet the Spanish Foreign Minister at the palace and instead suggested that Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui replace him, much to Albares’ displeasure.

“The divergences between the diplomatic teams tasked with preparing it were such that Ahmed Attaf chose to cancel it on the eve of the visit,” reported the same source.

Earlier this month, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the postponement of the official visit to the Algerian capital, quoting scheduling reasons on the Algerian government’s part, according to El Pais.

However, Minister Albares’ team did not provide any explanation for the sudden change.

El Confidencial previously mentioned the Algerian President’s busy schedule prevented a meeting with the Spanish head of diplomacy, as the media cites Algerian officials as a source. “As a response, Albares chose not to travel to Algiers.”

However, Algerian media had another say on this matter.

Echorouk said in an article, now deleted from its website, that “the arrangements for Minister Albares’ visit continued until late Sunday evening. Because the preparatory process failed to yield conclusive results, organizing the visit for the agreed-upon date was not feasible.”