ALGIERS--A US envoy visited Algeria on Thursday as part of a regional tour to discuss issues including the Libyan conflict and the disputed Western Sahara, officials said. The visit took place amid signs of eroded relations between Washington and Algiers after the Trump administration announced last month its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Algeria shares borders with conflict-riddled Libya and is the key foreign backer of the Polisario Front, which has fought for control of the Western Sahara since the 1970s. Schenker’s visit came three months after a regional tour by US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who was later dismissed by Trump. Esper’s tour aimed to strengthen military cooperation with regional countries to combat jihadism and preserve security in North Africa and the Sahel.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 08, 2021 13:41 UTC