MIDDLE EAST AFRICA SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A001400350001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 31, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
Secret
Middle East
Africa
South Asia
Secret
140
No. 0835/75
July 31, 1975
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865A001400350001-9
SECRET
MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA - SOUTH ASIA
Algeria: Minister of State Dismissed .
July 31, 1975
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865A001400350001-9
 Approved For Release 2004/08/~I:a79T00865A001400350001-9
Algeria
Minister of State Dismissed
Algerian Minister of State Cherif Belkacem,
a member of the Council of the Revolution and one
of the formerly influential "Oujda group" associated
with President Boumediene since the revolution, has
been removed from his post, according to a terse
government announcement released yesterday. The
statement gave no reasons for his dismissal and did
not name a replacement.
Belkacem has been out of favor with President
Boumediene for nearly a year.
Boumediene's removal of a former revolutionary
associate may have been intended as a warning to
other subordinates to fall into line. Last month
Boumediene announced his intention to revitalize the
National Liberation Front, Algeria's sole political
party, and to hold elections for a new national
assembly--the first in 13 years--by mid-1976.
Boumediene may make further ministerial changes to
tighten his reins of authority before trying to use
the electoral process to legitimize his government.
July 31, 1975
25X1
25X1
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865A001400350001-9
 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
SECRET
Mauritania - Morocco
Status of Relations
Recent public pronouncements of "total
solidarity" between Mauritania and Morocco mask
a relationship that could more accurately be
described as one of suspicion and disdain.
Until recently, Mauritania claimed ownership
of the Spanish Sahara as far north as El Aaiun.
Mauritanian President Moktar ould Daddah is on
record as stating that the "Moorish population"
of Mauritania extends into southern Morocco as
far north as the Draa River.
Morocco, on the other hand, claims that
Mauritania, as a Johnny-come-lately to the Sahara
decolonization campaign, had no right to any of
the territory unless Rabat chose to be gracious.
Mauritanians and Moroccans differ widely
in education and sophistication. Mauritania
has a population composed largely of Moors and Black
Africans, with the Moors in the majority. Morocco,
on the other hand, has a relatively sophisticated
population of Berbers and Arabs.
Mauritanians in and out of government view
Morocco with suspicion, remembering that Rabat
took ten years to recognize Mauritania's independence
and then did so only grudgingly. Moroccans, for
their part, are confident of their intellectual,
political and managerial superiority to Mauritanians.
This self-confidence may explain Rabat's public
declaration of solidarity with Nouakchott in the
Sahara dispute; Morocco apparently feels that, if
the region is handed over to the joint control of
the two countries, it could engineer a final
territorial disposition which would benefit Rabat.
July 31, 1975
Approved For Release 2004/08ICCDt RDP79T00865A001400350001-9
 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9
Secret
Secret
Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO01400350001-9