STAFF NOTES: MIDDLE EAST AFRICA SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000400040038-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2005
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: August 12, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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NO. 0841/75
Au:,ust 12, 1975
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UKT
MIDDLE. EAST -,AFRICA,- SOUTH ASIA
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Algeria-France: Historical Frictions
Spanish Sahara: Mauritanian-Moroccan
Agreement . 3
Nigeria: Considering New States . . . . 4
Aun 12, 1975
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SECRET
//'C tit a11'Lf'tt Fr-!(ft fords !i : ov
Recant incidontu involving Algeri:nn workers in
France and French citizens of Algerian extraction
visiting Algeria have marred bilateral relations.
The bombing in late July of an Algerian office
buUding and a cultural canter in France set off a
storm of press criticism. in Algiers of Paris" alleged
toleration of and indifference to attacks on'lgerian
interests.. Shortly thereafter.-two children of
harkis.--Algerians who sided with the French during
the war for independence--were prevented..from. leaving
A:i.giirs.. To retaliate,. harkis seized as hostages
several Algerian workers in ?ranee.. French author-
i,ties finally intervened. to stop the incidents,, and.
Algiers released the children.
The sense of recrimination that accompanied:
these disputes is a legacy of the bitter colonial.
period that persists despite the efforts of both,
governments to build a mor;. cooperative relationship-
French ' President Giscard d'Estaing "s visit-. to Algeria:
laltt April-the first to independent Algeria! by a
French, chief` of state--helped, lay the ',basis for
improved relations... For its part, Algiers recognizes
the need. for good relatisins.- France remains Algeria's.
primary trading partner.,, the most likely source of
future foreign investment,, and, an important safety
valve for reducing unemployment at home?
Aug 12,, 19-75,:
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5 atsir,h SLhura
>2?J- 1 OP ;,.!c'cm/: .i
The agreement between Mauritania and Morocco
on the partition of Spanish Sahara after the Spanish
withdraw appears to be little more than a ionoral
understanding. 25X1
the two countries have an Ural under-
e on ng--but no written agreamunt--chat laur.,itania
will gain control over the southern portion of the
region,. Rio de Oro, and Morocco will control the
northern portion, Saguia El Hamra..
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will star: at Corbo Bojador
on-the ?' ,antic, and generally fallow the 26th
paral:le,l... Such a partition would leave the
potentially lucrative flu Craa phosphates miners
in Moroccan, hands..
There is, likely to be mau:h, haggling and
recrimination, over the implementation of this
plan.. Mauritania badly necds additional tunds.`o
underwrite its. development programs, and undoubtedly
will. seek some share of the phosphate revenues for
not opposing Morocco s. claims.. In addition,. nomads
living along the projected. partition line give
their allegiance to their. tribal group rather than, to
any political. entity;. their movements will be a
source of continuing border disputes...
Morocco probably intends that revelation. of the
agreement will increase. pressure on. Spain to withdraw
from Spanish. Sahara before the Intarnatinal Court
of Justice issues its opinion, on. the disposition of
the. territary.. Rabat then would. be in a strong position.
.to: implement the agreement with. Mauritania to meet
its; own: Purposes.
Aug; 12:;. 19.T5.,
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laic aria
Conaidat?ing Now ,ituraa
Au promised by Head. of state UUrigadior Muhammad
in his first policy statomont, the military govern-
ment ban appointed a panel to examine the question
of creating additional statoa.. Muhammad has net
yet committed himself on this politically sensitive
issue, although former .cad. of rotate Yakubu Gowon
did finally pronounce himself in favor of creating
more states last October..
Disparities in size and wealth among Nigeria's
12 states have been a persitent source of complaint
among minority tribes and some groups within
Nigeria''s large tribes. These elements regard the
creation of more states as a means of gaining
stronger and more representative voice in the
federal system..
For the new. regime, tl'i establishment of
additional: states. would provide an opportunity to
assign. additionai rtata governorships tc aspiring
tai.,~Litary officers.. The government riould,, however,,
run the risk: of opening a Pandora ''a box? of, agitation
for the creation.. of numerous. tribal:l`y-oriented' and
economically weak mini-states.
The present state system,, which, reflects a~
balance of :six.. northern and` six southern states,.
was: created: in. 1.067 by Gowon to replace the four
regional adrii nistrative. divisions that existed. at
that time.. His aim was to prevent the imminent
secession. of the predominantly Ibo eastern .region,
by reducing? the east''s fear of. domination by, the.
north and. to eawa the faarr of minority tribes in
all regions...
SERE,
(Continued).
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Smiu,
Rivalry between the ragions- during ,thu unriy
19801'u was responsible for the breakdown or civilian
rules, two mi13.tary coupa.: and a civil war. The
state ayatae.,, by providing political balance. among
Nigeria I's competing regional and tribal interests,,
wan one of Gowon''s main achiavomanta.,
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Aug .r 1,975:
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