During the Arab League summit, marked by the presence of the Syrian and Ukrainian presidents, Abdelmadjid Tebboune was represented by his Prime Minister. For what ?
The 32nd Arab League summit, which took place last Friday in Jeddah, did not go unnoticed. And for good reason: observers did not fail to highlight the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who remained discreet to say the least, benefiting from the highly publicized presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In front of an audience of Heads of State, the latter deplored that "some Arab countries turn a blind eye to the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine".
If the arrival of Zelensky should not change much, it has nevertheless caused some unease within the Arab League. In the eyes of the world, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, alias MBS, therefore appeared as a cantor of peace. It was on his initiative that the Ukrainian president went to Jeddah. MBS managed a nice diplomatic coup, even if, in front of him, several leaders were missing.
In addition to the notable absences of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, and the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was also not present in Jeddah. A significant absence, especially since the last Arab League summit took place in Algiers and the Algerian head of state is the current president of the Arab League.
Saudi Arabia lacked diplomacy
Shortly before the Saudi summit - the evening before - the Algerian presidency made a point of warning that it is the Algerian Prime Minister, Aimene Benabderrahmane, who would officially represent Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Jeddah. On the side of Algiers, we quickly wanted to make things clear: the absence of Tebboune would not be due to the presence of the Ukrainian president.
In reality, explain several sources close to the Algerian presidency to the TSA newspaper, Mohammed ben Salmane would have lacked decorum vis-à-vis Algiers. We particularly remember the conspicuous absence of the crown prince in Algiers, at the last summit of the Arab League, at the end of last year – even if he had claimed medical reasons, the prince had quickly flown to Asia. MBS, like MBZ, was slow to cancel his visit and incited King Mohammed VI to refuse the Algerian president's invitation.
Supporter of reciprocity, Algeria therefore logically declined the invitation. Especially since other events would have disturbed Algiers: during the preparation of the Jeddah summit, the Algerian delegation would not have been invited to the preparatory meetings. And in particular to amman mini summit, in early May, which was to make it possible to negotiate a consensual return of Syria to the Arab League. However, Algeria has been particularly active in this matter.
The very personal attitude of MBS would therefore not pass in Algiers. Like many other countries of the Arab League, we do not understand the pro-Ukraine initiative of the crown prince which has taken an astonishing turn in the Arab League. The Algerian press believes that Mohammed bin Salman has "privatized" the summit. There where Algiers, at the end of last year, had preferred to play the unity by launching an invitation in good and due form to the king of Morocco.