Algeria Ambassador to Kenya Boumediene Mahi has criticised international community’s stance on the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts.
Speaking during the marking of the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s revolution of November 1, 1954, Ambassador Mahi called out what he termed as “silence and at times complicity” of parts of the international community on the killings.
“The war crimes and acts of genocide committed by the Israeli Army in Palestine and Lebanon, particularly in Gaza, where innocent civilians —primarily children, women and elderly — suffer unimaginable atrocities mark a profound stain on our collective humanity,” the envoy said.
Ambassador Mahi warned that the silence and inaction on the part of the international community is more than a passive oversight, terming it a betrayal of the values of humanity and solidarity cherished in international law.
He expressed Algeria’s concern by the escalating threats to global peace, and the “grave human rights abuses” facing the Palestinian people.
“Algeria continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, advocating peaceful resolution that guarantee’s Palestinians’ their legitimate right to an independent state with Al-Quds and Al-Sharif as its capital,” the ambassador added.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza — as reported by Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs — at least 43,061 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza and 101,223 reported injured between October 7, 2023 and October 29, 2024.
Further, OCHA reported that, on October 20, the Health ministry published the breakdown of 40,717 out of 42,010 fatalities as of October 7. These included 13,319 children, 7,216 women, 3,447 elderly, and 16,735 men.
“Among the child fatalities, 786 children are under one year of age, representing about six per cent of killed children whose full identification details have been documented,” the ministry reported, further adding that as of October 7, 2024, some 35,055 children had lost one or both parents in the past year.
REGIONAL MATTERS
On regional matters, Ambassador Mahi reiterated Algeria’s “firm stand on just causes… particularly Sahrawi’s struggle for independence”.
“The Sahrawi people, strengthened by the historic October 24 historic ruling of the European Union’s Supreme Court in their favour, have once again shown the international community that their just cause is not a commodity of any party to negotiate with the colonial power,” the envoy said adding that it reenforced their self-determination and affirmed the legitimacy of their struggle.
The Western Sahara question has put Algeria and Morocco at loggerheads, with the latter maintaining that the region is part of its own territory, making international recognition for its sovereignty over the territory its main diplomatic objective.
On the other hand, Algeria, has continued to back the Polisario Front, which has fought for the independence of what it calls the Sahrawi Arab Republic since the early 1970s.
Amb. Mahi noted that Algeria will use it fourth election to the UN Security Council to champion for the oppressed people and upholding international law through multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution.
BILATERAL TIES
While acknowledging the close ties between the two states, Ambassador Mahi noted more needs to be done to improve the “modest” bilateral trade.
“Bothe governments are committed to strengthening this partnership, and the nw Algerian-Kenyan Business Council allows business leaders to explore new opportunities for economic cooperation,” he said.
The partnership covers energy, transport, agriculture, higher education and justice sectors.
He communicated that since 2022, over 350 Kenyan students had studied in Algeria, in medicine, engineering and pharmacy.
“These young talents represent the strong friendship and promising future of our bilateral relationship,” he said.
On his part, Amb Dennis Gathogo, deputy director general of Africa Directorate, who represented the Foreign ministry said over the years, Kenya and Algeria have cultivated a deep and cordial friendship built on the principles of solidarity, cooperation and commitment to advance common interests.
“As a country, we remain dedicated to strengthening these partnerships and exploring new avenues of cooperation,” Amb. Gathogo said.
