BACKGROUND NOTE: NORTH AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000900050014-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 12, 2002
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: January 21, 1958
• Content Type: OUTLINE

State Dept. review completed
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AFRICA
is
The Alger
preoccupation
Low well into f
-is a main
ice *lid the chief stumbling block in Fra e's
is and Morocco.
A.
11
POPu
claims that Algerian Moslems (some $,000,000 nut of a
on of over 9,900,000) are rallying to France and
optimise that the now basic statute for Algeria can resolte
the situation are believed unwarrantedly opti .stic.
Consul General Al trs says Idea of " independence" L-es so
permeated the Moslem p tlation that no other
solution is possible.
rebel military activities could
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because rebels
combat potential,
91 January 1951
have
a still estimated at
25#000 full time fighters: manpower no problem and ao
its high,
military leaders said to have won ascendancy over pro-lie
political colleagues in direction of Algerian National
ration &'ront,
Dns with Franc
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Tua sian--based rebels Clanked with 'reach forc:i
in 1g
deterioration in Tunisia's role
January. Pending negotiations an co men do se
a Wfi F $e h !O be D %w98,u QO90005OO14-8
h at any
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Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP79R0089OA000900050014-8
in power.
.y inflated incident On eve of 'rote of
blame French Premier Gaillard
4Pre
dad over may
-hold eo wh
n lgetria
rang. Rebels are attiupting
Tonal Red Crow to force Fresecb recognition
a belligerent.
on Tu
I., presence of some 5,800 we
soil in a throat to Tunisian
th Tuaisia is dominating foreign policy debate now
underway in French National Assembly
We relations with Franco are
Algerian rebels
jlity,
iably butter than
can support for Algerian re'
A.
solution of outstanding problems in their relations
uA isian offer to mediate a Pattie st
rejected (except an regards a cease:-fire
use a -roccan services in exploratory can
re.
re Tunisia
-blanca was dose
imelight during Assembly disaassious
18 January and car
madly destined for Algerian
Approved For Release 2003/02/2
onfincated.
go slag ship
of 180 tons
 Approved For Release 2003/02 9R00890A000900050014-8
Africa
;sry situation in the Ifni sere appears generally quiet
Sow minor skirmishing between Moroccan Army of Liberat;
re and Spanish troops vq* reported to have occurred
there last week.
A.
ry heavier fighting has occurred at
at two points is Spanish Sahara south of
most recently on 13-I4 January.
1, Guerrillas appear to be building up that
Lou and further clashes are probable,.
sh f
at 12,
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is in the Ifni-Spanish Sahara aces are estimate
n, Of these, 4,000 or* based at four points Jr.
the Spanish protectorate of Southern Morocco and in Spa.nisb
Sahara proper. Army of Liberation strength in the region
as a Whole probably totals about 6
once has an estimated d,,
fl troops I
'it nia, probably scum 2,004 in extreme western Algeria
a reported 50 based throughout Morocco.
Approved For Release 2003/
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 Approved For Release 2003/02/DP79R00890A000900050014-8
won Madrid and Rabat at official level conti.nus
my auicabl.. Lost week a
on
ire for retiring peseta from Morocco's northern neat
initiated in Madrid.,
hopes of uti:
cease-fire in Algeria
rein
to brin
factor
each participation in any joint aflitarp
operation in the western Sahara,
Approved For Release 2003/02/2T. ' P79R0089OA000900050014-8