🎬 Bedpans

Good morning. Your motivational quote of the day comes from convicted felon and con artist, Anna Delvey. For those who watch America’s TV show “Dancing with the Stars”, she was sent home last week after a very spirited performance. When asked by the host what she would take away from the competition, she replied “Nothing”.

Maybe for the first time in her life, she was honest.

— Geraldine Ndzomo, Edna Akanni.

GEOPOLITICS
Algeria won’t let Moroccans visit at will any longer

Even more widening than the perennial rift between parents and children over what constitutes ‘cool’ is the gaping hole between ‘used-to-be’ friends and neighbors: Algeria and Morocco. Their clash came to a climax over the weekend when Algeria revoked the 35-year-old visa waiver for Moroccans, implying that their neighbors will henceforth need visas to travel into the country.

Algeria’s Ministry of Interior notably cites “destabilization actions” and the organization of "human and drug-trafficking, espionage and the deployment of Zionist agents" by Morocco.

…but we all know the main reason why.

The two countries remain at odds over the Western Sahara as Algeria continues to back the Polisario Front, which challenges Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed territory since its colonial ruler Spain pulled out in 1975.

In an epic display of pseudo-moralism, Morocco has continued to advocate before the United Nations and the global West that the Western Sahara colony isn’t prepared for independence and may need to continue to answer to Rabat in the near future. Analysts claim that this approach may be justified given the fishing and phosphate boom the colony has experienced under Moroccan rule.

Grudges, grudges, grudges. Analysts believe Algeria is especially irked by the growing international support for Morocco over the Western Sahara dispute. After French President Emmanuel Macron said in July that “the only solution” was a Moroccan plan to grant the territory autonomy within the kingdom without the option of independence, Algeria recalled its ambassador.

Any reconciliation in sight? In 2023, Algerian President Tebboune said that relations with Morocco had reached a “point of no return”. He was sworn into office for a second term last week. —GN.

SNIPPETS

• Woah: 17 people have been reported dead following two mass shootings in Lusikisiki, South Africa. The country is currently averaging more than 70 homicides a day, mostly due to firearms.

• No surprises here. Ethiopian athletes swept to victory during this weekend’s Berlin marathon. Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut was the only non-Ethiopian to feature on the podium.

• South African Fashion brand, Maxhosa Africa presented their latest collection in Paris. A first for the indigenous brand. A bit surprised at the location of the event…it was a church.

• Can’t do that. The Tunisian parliament has stripped the courts of power of the country’s electoral commission. This comes amid reports of the courts conniving with President Saied to ensure he faces little opposition in next week’s elections.