Algeria's president, Tebboune, signs a decree requiring the full performance of the Algerian national anthem

Algeria's president, Tebboune, signs a decree requiring the full performance of the Algerian national anthem

    Tuesday, June 13, 2023   No comments

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently signed a decree imposing the full performance of the national anthem with its five stanzas, to include a stanza containing words bearing a threat to France, and this stanza had angered Paris earlier.

It is noteworthy that Algeria wrested its independence from France in 1962 after 132 years of struggle against French colonialism, as that period was considered bloody in the history of the Arab country and remained a deep wound in the heart of every Algerian despite the passage of generations.

The Algerian national anthem is the only one that mentions another country in its lyrics, as one of its stanzas includes these sentences:

Oh France, the time for admonition has passed,

and we folded it as the book is folded,

O France, the day of reckoning,

prepare and take from us the answer,

in our revolution Separate the speech, and 

we resolved that Algeria would live.

so bear witness, 

bear witness, 

bear witness.

 

The section was sometimes sung, and at other times the Algerian authorities were satisfied with showing only part of the anthem to shorten it, but Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune signed the decree imposing the full performance of the anthem with its five sections.

The abbreviated version can be performed on certain occasions, such as receiving heads of state during official visits, or speeches addressed by the president to the nation, military decrees at the Ministry of Defense, and others.

The clip had aroused "France's anger", and the French negotiating delegation objected to it prior to the signing of the "Evian" treaty with the then interim Algerian government, which recognized Algeria's independence, but its request was rejected.

The clip was deleted during the reign of President Chadli Ben Jedid during the eighties of the last century, after that the former Algerian President Liamine Zeroual decided to restore it finally in 1995.

In 2007, the section of the Algerian national anthem was removed from school books, which caused great discontent in Algeria at the time.

Indeed, the video of Tebboune's inauguration ceremony and his taking the constitutional oath, in 2019, shows the full performance of the Algerian national anthem, including the passage that mentions France.

It is noteworthy that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was scheduled to visit France last May, but he postponed his visit without giving reasons.

 

Media Review: Military Watch: A “terrifying” Chinese weapon located in Algeria destroys “NATO” tanks if delivered to Russia

Media Review: Military Watch: A “terrifying” Chinese weapon located in Algeria destroys “NATO” tanks if delivered to Russia

    Monday, February 27, 2023   No comments

A magazine specialized in weapons and military equipment published a lengthy article about one of the effective Chinese weapons against tanks, stressing that this simple weapon may destroy the various Western tanks that NATO recently sent to Ukraine.

Military Watch magazine indicated that Western countries pledged tens of billions of dollars worth of new weapons to support the Ukrainian forces, at a time when Washington and European sources claimed that “the Russian army could receive support from China.”

The magazine considered that “this proposition and speculation contradicts Beijing’s neutral position, which is in line with the position of the majority of non-Western countries on the Ukrainian crisis,” but noted that “the wide range of weapons that China can provide, from guided missile artillery to missiles, could change the balance of Powers..although there is a great danger for China through the seizure of its weapons systems and its study by Ukraine and its Western supporters.

And the magazine noted that "if China decides to provide weapons, which is unlikely as it seems, one of the weapons with the greatest impact that it can provide is the simplest in terms of size and back."

However, the magazine considered that the simple Chinese anti-tank type “HJ-12” could cause a major problem for Western tanks supplied from NATO.

According to the report published by Military Watch, the Chinese company (China North Industries Corporation) developed this weapon in 2014, and obtained only one export contract to the Algerian army.

The HJ-12 is widely considered the most capable missile system of its kind in the world, competing with the US Javelin and the French NNB.

The simple shape of the Chinese weapon “HJ-12” allows for launching operations from inside buildings and targeting targets tightly before they are targeted.

The Chinese weapon allows the elements to carry out the targeting process and then to hide directly after firing, and gives them time to re-stock in order to engage a second target, considering that the Chinese weapon is the “most terrifying” for the Ukrainian army.

The magazine considered that the Chinese anti-tank “HJ-12” would be very dangerous for the new categories of tanks supplied to Ukraine, such as “Leopard 2”, “Leopard 1”, “Abrams” and others.

“China has worked on developing the HJ-12 anti-tank with the aim of improving its ability to penetrate and detonate reactive armor, in addition to its very long range of 4 kilometers, which enables it to engage less well-armoured targets at longer ranges at the expense of accuracy and penetration power.”

The missile system combines highly advanced capabilities with extremely light weight and weighs only 22 kg, allowing ground forces to maintain high mobility and great dynamism.

“Missiles are highly maneuverable and are designed to hit enemy vehicles from above where shields are weakest.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had commented on the allegations of supplying Chinese weapons to Russia, saying that he “does not see any point in commenting on Western reports about discussing the supply of military equipment to Russia by Beijing, as all information has been refuted by China.”

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had warned Beijing of the consequences of supplying Moscow with weapons. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is concerned about the possibility of China supplying weapons to Russia.

Today, Monday, China commented on the US imposing sanctions on its companies, due to allegations of its support for Russia.

"Beijing will take firm countermeasures, and will firmly protect the interests of Chinese companies," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, according to the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper.

And Ning urged America to stop spreading disinformation, and to lift sanctions on Chinese companies, according to “Sputnik”.

Algerian Chief of Staff to an American official: We adhere to the principle of non-alignment and the independence of our sovereign decision in our dealings with our international partners

Algerian Chief of Staff to an American official: We adhere to the principle of non-alignment and the independence of our sovereign decision in our dealings with our international partners

    Wednesday, February 08, 2023   No comments

Algerian Chief of Staff Said Chenegriha stressed, on Wednesday, his country's adherence to the "principle of non-alignment" and the independence of its sovereign decision in its dealings with its international partners.

This came during a meeting between Chanegriha and the commander of the US military command in Africa, AFRICOM, General Michael Langley, who is visiting the country, according to a statement by the Algerian Ministry of Defense.

Chanegriha said, "I would like to emphasize on this occasion that Algeria clings to the principle of non-alignment, and is jealous of its history full of glories and championships, and is also jealous of its independence and sovereign political decision."

Regarding relations with Washington, he continued that his country “deals, within the framework of serving its interests, with many friendly countries with which it has military and economic relations, similar to the United States of America.”

He expressed Algeria's readiness "to establish cooperation that meets the aspirations of both parties, given that our two countries are engaged in the path of improving the security situation on the African continent."

Without details about the nature of the talks between them, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received General Langley on Wednesday evening, according to a statement by the presidency.

It seems that the Algerian Chief of Staff’s assertion of “non-alignment” and “independence of the political decision” carries some messages. While Algeria and Washington remain silent, there are media reports of muffled tensions between the two countries due to the intensity of defense cooperation between Algeria and Russia.

A few days ago, President Tebboune announced that he would visit Russia next May, and stressed that his country has good relations with all countries, including the United States and China.

It is expected during the visit, according to observers, to announce the signing of projects to enhance joint cooperation in sectors, including defense.

The Aftershocks of France’s Colonial Supremacy is Empowered by its Current Hubris

The Aftershocks of France’s Colonial Supremacy is Empowered by its Current Hubris

    Friday, February 03, 2023   No comments

 France continues to refuse to accept responsibility over its crimes of colonialism in Algeria, refuse to pay reparations for the harm it caused to Algerian families, and refuse to pay for the cleanup of its nuclear waste in the Algerian Sahara that is still causing harm to people and the environment. Yet, French leaders continue to lecture Muslim-majority countries about human rights and insist that they do not have access to nuclear technology, be it peaceful or otherwise. Historical records, however, show how France’s actions have created many of the most perennial problems that it now wants other countries to solve. Among these actions taken by French leaders is how their determination to hold on to Algeria allowed them to help other colonizers develop weapons of mass destruction and shield them from any criticism and safety measures, such as the monitoring of nuclear facilities by UN institutions, while they continue to accuse Muslim-majority countries of being irresponsible with their developing of nuclear programs.

 Here is a good place to start reading about this and related topics:

Specifically, during the mid-1950s France’s control over Algeria—which it considered part of France and not just another colony—was increasingly contested by a domestic insurgency that was receiving substantial support from the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. Paris responded by eliciting Israel’s help in providing intelligence on the Algerian situation in return for French conventional weaponry. The opportunity to transform this into nuclear cooperation presented itself in 1956 when Paris asked Israel to provide France and Britain with a pretext to intervene militarily in what became the Suez Canal crisis.   

-- From The Story of How American Jews and France Built Israel’s Nuclear Weapons

 

Western Sahara: The Polisario movement's 16th congress began its conference to renew its leadership

Western Sahara: The Polisario movement's 16th congress began its conference to renew its leadership

    Friday, January 13, 2023   No comments

The Polisario Front, seeking to obtain the right to self-determination in Western Sahara, began its conference to renew its leadership, in the context of severe tensions between its ally Algeria and Morocco, which controls 80% of this region.

The conference will be held in the presence of more than 2,200 members of the Front and 370 foreign guests over a period of five days, 175 kilometers south of the Algerian city of Tindouf, in the Dakhla refugee camp, which bears the name of a coastal town in Western Sahara, an area rich in phosphates and fisheries at the heart of an ongoing conflict. half a century ago.

Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, 73, who enjoys indispensable support from Algeria, appears confident of his re-election at the conference, which kicks off at noon on Friday.

"This is the first conference since the resumption of the armed struggle" at the end of 2020, Mohamed Yeslam Bessat, the representative of the Sahrawis in South Africa, told AFP.

A decades-old dispute has been taking place over Western Sahara, which Morocco controls most of its territory, and considers it an integral part of its territory, proposing to grant it autonomy under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, is calling for its independence.

It is a major cause of tension in relations between the two Maghreb countries, as Algeria cut off diplomatic relations with Rabat since the summer of 2021.

A ceasefire resolution in force since 1991 was violated, in mid-November 2020, after the deployment of Moroccan forces in the far south of the region to expel the Polisario fighters who were blocking the only road leading to Mauritania and considered it illegal because it did not exist when the agreement was reached with Rabat.

Since then, the Polisario Front says it is "in a state of war in self-defense" and has declared "a war zone for all the territory of the Sahrawi Republic, including land, sea and air."

The conference takes place at a time when Western Sahara is at the center of escalating tensions between the two powerful states of the Maghreb.

Algeria effectively cut off its diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021 due to deep differences over this file and the security rapprochement between Rabat and Israel.

And after the recognition of former US President Donald Trump's administration at the end of 2020 encouraged Morocco's sovereignty over this region in exchange for rapprochement with Israel, Rabat has since increasingly used its diplomatic activity to mobilize the support of other countries for its positions.

The 16th conference is being organized under the slogan "Escalating Fighting to Expel the Occupation and Complete Sovereignty."

And ending with the convening of the conference, the governorship of Ghali, who succeeded in July 2016 the historical leader Muhammad Abdel Aziz, who died a few weeks ago. In addition, Ghali is the president of the “Sahrawi Arab Republic,” declared unilaterally in 1976.

The representative of the Polisario Front in Geneva, Omaima Abdel Salam, confirms that “the last word will be for the Sahrawi people during this conference. The position of Secretary-General is not exclusive to anyone,” refuting press reports about a struggle to succeed Ghali.

She explained, “So far, there is no list of candidates for the position of Secretary-General. These are just rumours.”

The Algerian president Inaugurates Nelson Mandela stadium in Algeria and discusses what he said to the most senior officials of the International and African Football Federations

The Algerian president Inaugurates Nelson Mandela stadium in Algeria and discusses what he said to the most senior officials of the International and African Football Federations

    Friday, January 13, 2023   No comments

Algeria was the first to support Nelson Mandela when he was in prison and placed in terrorist list in Wester countries and now memorializes Mandela by dedicating a soccer stadium in his name. 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in a press interview at the “Nelson Mandela” stadium in the Algerian capital, that he informed the top official in “FIFA”, Gianni Anfontino, that Algeria is capable of hosting major international football events and will be committed to providing all the capabilities required to organize high-level competitions.

He added, "Algeria is also ready to be the scene of football competitions at the level of the brown continent, and that CAF President Motsepe can count on our country regarding this matter."

The Algerian president concluded by saying: “The modern, luxurious and international stadiums that were built in Oran, Baraki, Douira, Tizi Ouzou, also belong to Algerian youth and local competitions,” referring to the construction of three other stadiums in Waqla, Constantine and Bechar in the near future.