Diverging views

By Colin Kilkelly*

 

Manuel Valls, the French Minister of Interior, attracted widespread criticism from Tunisia and other countries in the region when he spoke out against an “Islamic fascism”, which he said was on the rise and added that “This darkness must obviously be condemned, since this negates the rule of law, democracy for which the people “France must support democracy” in Tunisia so that “values ​​Jasmine Revolution will not be betrayed,”

Laurent Fabius ,France’s Foreign Ministry, issued a more diplomatic statement saying that France was worried by events in Tunisia, but would not intervene in its internal affairs.

Manuel Valls is known for his forthright statements and the reaction from Tunisia, sensitive to its colonial past is understandable. The sharpness of the reaction against Mr. Valls’ statement may also be because of the very difficult tensions facing Tunisia and North Africa in general.

In his column “Ce que je crois,’ Editor-in -Chief of  Jeune Afrique points out that in both Tunisia and Egypt the Islamist-led governments are unable to ensure security, justice and the functioning of the economy. He describes their performance as calamitous. He condemns Rached Ghannouchi, president of Ennhada, and Mohamed Mursi, President of Egypt, for using double language to different audiences and hypocrisy.

He acknowledges that Western governments in general are paying the price for having supported dictatorships in the region, those who suppressed the Islamist parties in the region. However, he condemns the Islamist parties as undemocratic and wedded to the past rejecting the realities of modernity. Islamists, like Mohamed Mursi, have condemned the French intervention in Mal.

On the other hand, the Moroccans and King Mohammed VI warned at the OIC conference of the dangers to the whole region of the unchecked spread of terrorism.

France’s moral courage in mounting the decisive intervention after months of international procrastination has enhanced its standing in the region and the world.

The Royal United Services Institute in a report on a document found in Timbuktu points out that Al Qaeda planned to take over from the Tuareg and seize the North of Mali.

President Moncef Marzouki rejected Matthew Valls’ statement saying that France tended to use the same term “Islamists” for Tunisia and Mali and that this was wrong. However given the uncertain political situation in Tunisia, the fear of a takeover by extremist elements is real.

All Maghrebian countries are naturally and understandably sensitive about the colonial past and their hard won independence.  However, issues of human rights and democratic values which the Arab Spring espoused will continue to cause the West to comment on the situation in Maghreb countries in part because of its failure to address the issue for so long under the dictatorships which preceded it.

There is the wider dimension of the greater Mediterranean. European countries are providing important financial aid and support as well as advice to the countries of the Maghreb and North Africa because of the latter’s geographical proximity and close cultural links. Also, many North African expatriates reside in Europe.

Concerns by EU countries over events in North Africa as democracy is at the crossroads are natural because what happens in North Africa will directly affect Europe.

The battle between an extremist Islam and the more modern Islamic values in the Maghreb relevant to the modern world will go on, but the realities of the economic crises facing the Maghreb and its neighbors will also be a deciding factor.

The need for the West and the Islamic countries of the Maghreb to stay together, rather than to be torn apart is the defining moment of our time.

It also calls for European countries to stem the rising tide of anti-Islamist right wing sentiment within their own borders.

 

*Colin Kilkelly specializes in the Maghreb and is based in Marrakech, Morocco. He has worked in Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania. Previously he has lived and worked in Pakistan where he was Regional Director for South Magazine, and has visited frequently since then. He interviewed President Musharraf on 3 occasions for Pakistan Special Reports in FIRST Magazine, and has written for Blue Chip Magazine based in Islamabad. He recently wrote the UKTI (UK Government Department for Trade and Investment) folders for commercial investment into Morocco, Pakistan and Libya. He is also a correspondent for the North Africa Journal. He is a member of the Middle East Association (MEA) London.

 

All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Morocco News Tribune’s editorial policy.