Why—and How—Algeria Should Make Peace with Morocco
In which a conflict is summarized, and an exit strategy offered
KEVIN BARRETT
I’m writing from a rooftop room in Saidia, Morocco. My third-floor perch offers a soul-stirring view of the seaside mountains of Algeria. At night I can see the lights of cars from Marsa Ben M’Hidi, the Algerian coastal town across the Kiss River from Saidia, crawling up the mountain road to Adjeroud. When the ripe full moon hangs low over the Algerian mountains, the ascending car lights look like they’re heading into lunar orbit.
But though Algeria is right across a mostly-dry riverbed, Moroccans who want to visit relatives there might as well try flying to the moon. The guarded, barbed wire wrapped border has been closed since 1994.
Admittedly the moon may be slightly less accessible than Alge...
