MOROCCO

Khaled the “Moroccan” screamed the headline; the Algerian newspaper was referring to cheb Khaled, the Algerian-born international “pop rai” music star. The star of the worldwide hits “Didi” and “Aicha” has been getting a lot of grief from certain newspapers in his native Algeria for his presumed pro-Morocco statements regarding the Western Sahara conflict.

Ridicules as it sounds: In the last few months, the pro-Military press in Algeria has been commissioned to launch a ruthless campaign to smear the nationalism of Cheb Khaled. The anti-Morocco clan within the Algerian Military is furious at Khaled for his appearance at a music festival in the Moroccan city of Laâyoun in the Moroccan Sahara, or as the Algerian press like to call it, the occupied capital of the Western Sahara. The Algerian government views Cheb Khaled’s presence in Laayuon as an endorsement of Morocco’s territorial claim on the Sahara, and a rebuke to Algiers effort to convince the average Algerians and the international community that the world stands behind the Algerian position disputing Morocco’s claim.

The king of Rai sang in Laâyoun to please the millions of his Moroccan fans and not to play politics. Khaled, who has always been hugely popular in Morocco, has repeatedly stated his dislike of politics. Answering questions about the implication of his presence in Laayoun, the super star affirmed “I sing; I do not do politics.” However, the “Oujda clan” (the name given to a group of Algerian politicians and Army officials that are known of their fervent anti-Moroccan positions) will not have it; they launched a nasty media campaign attempting to portray cheb Khaled as a “sell out” who values his friendship with the Moroccan Monarch more than a sympathy for the plight of Saharawis wasting away in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.

Out of touch with the feelings of ordinary Algerians and Moroccans, the “Oujda clan” refuses to face a simple reality: People in the two countries, Morocco and Algeria, refuse to let the “Western Sahara” conflict hold their historic relationships hostage any longer.

Algerian Military Intelligence (SM) is greatly worried about the impact of Cheb Khaled , perceived pro-Morocco press declarations and his casual attitude towards the Moroccan position on the Sahara issue, on the Algerian public opinion. Khaled is revered in Algeria and has significant influence on the attitude of the average Algerians, especially the youth. Algerian intelligence services fret about a further negative shift of the Algerian public opinion toward the ever expansive anti “Oujda clan” attitude and the Bouteflika’s government continued decisions to squander billions of Algeria gas revenues on a desert adventure while millions of poor Algerians are facing an acute social malaise.

The SM, which has been feeling under siege in the aftermath of the recent Moroccan diplomatic successes, views Khaled’s manifestations as a threat to the long-term grip of the current Algerian government on its message of vilifying Morocco. The level of cruelty of the Algerian government campaign against a star that put Algerian music on the world map is a sign of desperation and high anxiety in al-Mouradia.

Moroccan would love to claim a star of the caliber of Cheb Khaled as a Moroccan; he is most definitely an honorary citizen of Morocco; but the truth is: Khaled is a true “Algerian Sharif”, unlike the elements who are questioning his nationalism.

By HASSAN MASIKY moroccoboard