فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Amid the diplomatic developments under President Donald Trump’s second term, North Africa witnessed a sudden move that could reshape regional conflicts: an active effort to finalize a peace agreement between Morocco and Algeria. Announced on October 20, 2025, this initiative reflects the unconventional diplomacy based on quick deals that characterizes Trump’s global conflict policies. The effort is led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, supported by Jared Kushner, aiming to resolve decades of tension within a tight 60-day timeframe — a bold claim given the history of stalled negotiations.
This report reviews the origins of the announcement, roles of the envoys, historical context of the dispute, responses from involved parties, and potential implications, based on initial interviews, diplomatic statements, and recent analyses.
Announcement: Peace Within 60 Days Timeline
The main trigger for attention was an extensive interview on the program “60 Minutes Overtime” on CBS, where Witkoff, alongside Kushner, discussed ongoing diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa. Responding to questions about diplomatic momentum following the Gaza ceasefire, Witkoff declared: “We are currently working on Algeria and Morocco, our team. And there will be a peace agreement, in my view, within 60 days.” This statement, aired on October 19, was later detailed and marked the first public U.S. commitment to a swift resolution to this conflict.
Witkoff’s optimism is drawn from initial commitments, including the recent U.S. call at the United Nations. Days earlier, the U.S. circulated a draft Security Council resolution describing Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara as “the only realistic and viable solution,” undermining demands from the Algeria-backed front and receiving backing from China as a permanent council member. This diplomatic foundation, alongside signals from U.S. Africa Advisor Masad Boulos indicating Algeria’s interest in improving relations, bolsters the envoy’s confidence. Kushner, less vocal in the segment, nodded approval, stressing their joint working model: Witkoff manages high-level calls and meetings, while Kushner crafts proposals and mobilizes investor networks.
The 60-day timeframe — concluding around mid-December 2025 — reflects Trump’s impatience for rapid results, similar to the Abraham Accords during his first term that normalized relations between Israel and various Arab states, including Morocco, in less than a year. However, experts caution that regional diplomacy timetables often face delays; recent analyses suggest North African agreements usually require 18-24 months due to sovereignty sensitivities.
Key Players: Witkoff and Kushner
At the forefront is Steve Witkoff, a 68-year-old New York real estate businessman appointed as the Middle East envoy in November 2024, raising questions. Without prior official diplomatic experience, Witkoff’s value lies in his “direct line” with Trump — a decades-long friendship forged in real estate deals — and his transactional mindset. Since taking office, he intermediated a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, secured the release of all living hostages, and initiated a 20-point phase one Gaza reconstruction plan. In the CBS interview, he described peace efforts as “contagious,” extending from Ukraine-Russia talks to Iranian initiatives, with Iranian leaders contacting him directly.
Complementing Witkoff is 44-year-old Jared Kushner, reemerging unofficially but influential. As Trump’s son-in-law and former senior advisor, Kushner led the Abraham Accords, securing Moroccan participation through economic incentives like U.S. recognition of its Western Sahara claims. After leaving the White House, he founded Affinity Partners, a $3 billion investment firm backed by Saudi and Emirati sovereign wealth funds, granting unmatched Gulf access. U.S. officials describe their dynamic as complementary: “Witkoff makes the calls; Kushner drafts the plans,” per reports on their Gaza achievements. Together, they visited Cairo and Tel Aviv and now shuttle between Rabat and Algiers, with Trump recently giving them “full authority” in directives.
Their status as “real estate dealmakers,” as Kushner self-describes, draws criticism for sidelining professional diplomats but earns praise for results. Recent analyses credit their Gaza deal success to the philosophy “get to yes first, details later,” noting risks in oversimplifying complex grievances.
Historical Context: Deep-Rooted Dispute from Colonial Legacy
The Morocco-Algeria rivalry dates to the 1963 Sand War over border territories and worsened due to the unresolved Western Sahara issue after Spain’s 1975 withdrawal. Morocco annexed the phosphate-rich area, prompting Algeria to host Polisario Front fighters and sever diplomatic ties in 2021 after Morocco normalized ties with Israel. Trade, which once reached $5 billion annually before 2021, plummeted, hurting both economies amid global energy shifts.
The U.S. historically favored Morocco as a non-NATO ally receiving $1 billion annually in aid, while maintaining cooler ties with Algeria due to its Russian leanings. Trump’s first administration leaned toward Rabat via the Abraham Accords, but the Biden administration’s neutrality slowed momentum. Recent escalations—Algerian arms to Polisario and Moroccan drone strikes—increased risks, with UN reports estimating 173,000 Sahrawi refugees in Algerian camps.
Reactions and Challenges
Initial reactions vary. Moroccan media hailed the announcement as a “victory for Rabat’s vision,” with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita praising “U.S. neutrality.” Algerian media showed no clear immediate response in available sources, possibly reflecting caution or awaiting official developments despite previous signs of interest in better relations. On X (formerly Twitter), Arabic posts about the announcement circulated, with users like @Pirana_dusahara reposting Witkoff’s quotes alongside Gaza success clips.
Implications: Regional Stability and U.S. Strategy
Success could open a North African trade bloc worth $100 billion, per World Bank estimates, reducing migration pressure on Europe and countering Russian influence. This aligns with Trump’s “peace through prosperity” model, blending aid with private investment—Kushner’s fund targets renewable energy in the Sahara. Failure might embolden opponents and undermine U.S. credibility post-Gaza.
More broadly, this reflects the effectiveness of Trump’s envoy team: from a “100% success rate” in Gaza (Kushner’s words) to efforts in Ukraine, Witkoff-Kushner embody revived realpolitik. Still, the announcement navigates a minefield of history and geopolitics. Diplomacy watchers will monitor UN sessions and shuttle visits for signs of thawing, but the envoys’ track record suggests underestimating them is a personal risk.
Source: Fes News
