Official Statement of MND
24th June 2021
Lieutenant General Said CHANEGRIHA, Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, takes part in the activities of the 9th Conference on International Security in Moscow
On the second day of the 9th Conference on International Security, organized by the Russian Federation on 23rd and 24th June 2021 in Moscow, Lieutenant General Said CHANEGRIHA, Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, delivered an address, at the beginning of which he stressed on the fact that this conference constitutes an adequate framework for the exchange of visions on international and regional security issues, in order to reach a mutual understanding about the current security challenges:
“The international and regional context is undergoing complicated and multidimensional geostrategic changes, which are resulting in new challenges and threats to security and peace in our regional space.
Indeed, despite the decrease on the scale of threats and risks of armed conflicts between traditional governmental actors, it is clear that current threats have become cross-border and often linked to non-governmental actors. I am sure that you too, without doubt, noticed that these threats became diffuse, multifaceted and much more ferocious.
This observation also applies to the African continent in general and to the Saharan-Sahel and Maghreb region in particular, where this area is in fact suffering from the throes of terrorism, arm, drug and human trafficking, cyber threats and other cross-border organised crime.
In addition, we have to mention the impact of climate changes through severe weather, the constant worries of water scarcity, the dangers of famine, and the unprecedented flows of immigrants linked to these climatic disturbances.”
The Lieutenant General recalled some of the factors at the origin of destabilisation in the world in general and in the region in particular:
“In addition, other destabilising factors intervene such as epidemiological risks, tribal conflicts, the exodus of populations fleeing some areas of violence, as well as poverty suffered by the populations of this region; this worsened the security crisis in this region.
This deteriorating security situation has been further aggravated by the failure of some countries to deal effectively with these threats that are still spreading across the African continent, heralding the imminence of great security risks for the African peoples.
This security dimension will, in the short and medium term, jeopardise development opportunities within the continent, and open the way for foreign interference, under the pretext of restoring order, this often happens in a purely anticipatory manner.”
With regard to the cause of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, whose people aspire to freely exercise their right to self-determination, the Lieutenant General stressed on the fact that it was crucial for the UN to take its responsibilities to resolve this long-standing conflict:
“To this security context that characterizes the Maghreb and Saharan-Sahel region, is added the armed conflict in Western Sahara, and this following the violation by Morocco of the ceasefire agreement on 13th November 2020.
In addition, the stalemate in resolving this conflict in accordance with the UN resolutions and the distortion of some UN Security Council members regarding the appointment of a special representative of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, have contributed to the resumption of fight between the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and Morocco.
Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa and its people aspire to freely exercise their right to self-determination. In this regard, I have repeatedly stressed on the fact that the actions of the coloniser to forcefully annex the Sahrawi territories, while disregarding the concept of respect for human rights in the occupied territories, are incompatible with the UN Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union of which the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a founding member.
This worrying situation, marked by the military upsurge and foreign interference, could inflame tensions in the whole region.
This very alarming situation for security and peace requires the international community to assume its responsibilities by strictly respecting the provisions of international law in its resolution.”
The lieutenant General confirmed that it has become necessary to combine the efforts of the international community to ensure security and stability in the various regions of the world, highlighting Algeria's willingness to cooperate with its partners in order to face the different challenges:
“Based on this observation, it has become a necessity to combine efforts and adopt common responses to the challenges in order to ensure security, stability and well-being in the region. It is also our priority to fight, without respite, against the terrorist threat and cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, while strengthening good governance and institutional vocation of States in promoting the triad of security, peace and development.
Finally, I reiterate Algeria's unwavering commitment to work alongside its partners to meet the security challenges facing the international community, particularly in the Maghreb and Saharan-Sahel region, through the development of the necessary cooperation mechanisms, within the framework of respect for international legality.”
“The international and regional context is undergoing complicated and multidimensional geostrategic changes, which are resulting in new challenges and threats to security and peace in our regional space.
Indeed, despite the decrease on the scale of threats and risks of armed conflicts between traditional governmental actors, it is clear that current threats have become cross-border and often linked to non-governmental actors. I am sure that you too, without doubt, noticed that these threats became diffuse, multifaceted and much more ferocious.
This observation also applies to the African continent in general and to the Saharan-Sahel and Maghreb region in particular, where this area is in fact suffering from the throes of terrorism, arm, drug and human trafficking, cyber threats and other cross-border organised crime.
In addition, we have to mention the impact of climate changes through severe weather, the constant worries of water scarcity, the dangers of famine, and the unprecedented flows of immigrants linked to these climatic disturbances.”
The Lieutenant General recalled some of the factors at the origin of destabilisation in the world in general and in the region in particular:
“In addition, other destabilising factors intervene such as epidemiological risks, tribal conflicts, the exodus of populations fleeing some areas of violence, as well as poverty suffered by the populations of this region; this worsened the security crisis in this region.
This deteriorating security situation has been further aggravated by the failure of some countries to deal effectively with these threats that are still spreading across the African continent, heralding the imminence of great security risks for the African peoples.
This security dimension will, in the short and medium term, jeopardise development opportunities within the continent, and open the way for foreign interference, under the pretext of restoring order, this often happens in a purely anticipatory manner.”
With regard to the cause of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, whose people aspire to freely exercise their right to self-determination, the Lieutenant General stressed on the fact that it was crucial for the UN to take its responsibilities to resolve this long-standing conflict:
“To this security context that characterizes the Maghreb and Saharan-Sahel region, is added the armed conflict in Western Sahara, and this following the violation by Morocco of the ceasefire agreement on 13th November 2020.
In addition, the stalemate in resolving this conflict in accordance with the UN resolutions and the distortion of some UN Security Council members regarding the appointment of a special representative of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, have contributed to the resumption of fight between the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and Morocco.
Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa and its people aspire to freely exercise their right to self-determination. In this regard, I have repeatedly stressed on the fact that the actions of the coloniser to forcefully annex the Sahrawi territories, while disregarding the concept of respect for human rights in the occupied territories, are incompatible with the UN Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union of which the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a founding member.
This worrying situation, marked by the military upsurge and foreign interference, could inflame tensions in the whole region.
This very alarming situation for security and peace requires the international community to assume its responsibilities by strictly respecting the provisions of international law in its resolution.”
The lieutenant General confirmed that it has become necessary to combine the efforts of the international community to ensure security and stability in the various regions of the world, highlighting Algeria's willingness to cooperate with its partners in order to face the different challenges:
“Based on this observation, it has become a necessity to combine efforts and adopt common responses to the challenges in order to ensure security, stability and well-being in the region. It is also our priority to fight, without respite, against the terrorist threat and cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, while strengthening good governance and institutional vocation of States in promoting the triad of security, peace and development.
Finally, I reiterate Algeria's unwavering commitment to work alongside its partners to meet the security challenges facing the international community, particularly in the Maghreb and Saharan-Sahel region, through the development of the necessary cooperation mechanisms, within the framework of respect for international legality.”
