For some Indonesians, the countries under the Union du Maghreb Arabe\n(UMA), or Arab Maghreb Union, may still be unfamiliar. Indonesian\nfootball fans are more familiar with current football megastars like\nAchraf Hakimi, Lamine Yamal from the Spanish national team, Karim\nBenzema, the French football star who plays for Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia),\nor legendary French star Zidane, or Rayan Ellaoumi (Canada). In fact,\nthese football stars are descendants of UMA countries (Morocco, Algeria,\nand Tunisia).<\/p>\n
In the political world, Indonesians, especially Baby Boomers and\nGeneration X, are very familiar with the late Muammar Gaddafi (Leader of\nLibya), the phenomenal anti-West figure, and other figures such as the\nprominent Muslim sociologist Ibnu Khaldun from Tunisia. Meanwhile,\nNusantara scholars are more familiar with classical texts like Dalail\nKhairat or the Tidjani Tariqa.<\/p>\n
The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), comprising five Arab countries in North\nAfrica\u2014Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Mauritania\u2014is a political\nand economic organisation founded on 17 February 1989 in Marrakech,\nMorocco. Its goal was to integrate these five countries, although\nprogress has been hampered by regional political disputes. Headquartered\nin Rabat, Morocco, the UMA\u2019s primary objective was to facilitate the\nfree movement of people, services, goods, and capital among member\nstates and to foster closer commercial and cultural ties. However, the\norganisation\u2019s activities have largely remained dormant. Deep diplomatic\ndisputes\u2014particularly between Algeria and Morocco over the Western\nSahara issue\u2014have prevented real progress, with the high-level\npresidential council not holding a summit since the mid-1990s. Despite\nthese challenges, the trade agreement serves as a basic framework\nintended to unite a region with a combined population of over 100\nmillion people.<\/p>\n
What then is the direction of relations between Indonesia and these\nUMA countries? What challenges does Indonesia face in its efforts to\nenhance relations with countries in the region, and what are the\npriorities of President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s administration in\nstrengthening ties with UMA nations?<\/p>\n
Before 1955, relations between Indonesia and the Arab Maghreb\ncountries, especially Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, were marked by\nanti-colonial solidarity, Islamic brotherhood, and grassroots diplomatic\nadvocacy. Newly independent Indonesia supported the independence\nmovements of North African countries against French and Spanish colonial\nrule. A significant milestone in these pre-1955 relations was the\nestablishment of the North Africa Committee in 1951. Indonesia\u2019s Prime\nMinister at the time, Mohammad Natsir, founded the Action Committee for\nthe Defence of the Independence of the North African People. This\ncommittee actively supported the independence struggles of the Algerian,\nMoroccan, and Tunisian people. From 1951, Indonesia used its newly\nacquired membership in the United Nations (UN) to consistently advocate\nfor Tunisia\u2019s independence from French colonial rule. Ahead of the\nhistoric Bandung Conference in 1955, Indonesia invited and hosted\ndelegations from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Although these countries\nwere not yet fully independent, Indonesia provided them with a vital\ninternational platform to voice their sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Arab\nMaghreb countries shifted from historical solidarity-based ties to an\nera of aggressive economic integration, marked by trade agreements,\nhalal certification, and strategic supply chain partnerships. Key\nstrategic and economic directions now define the current Indonesia-UMA\nrelationship. Bilateral relations focus on expanding two-way trade,\nincreasing investment in energy and agriculture, and promoting cultural\nand educational diplomacy rooted in shared Islamic values and\nanti-colonial solidarity. In the economic and trade sector, economic\nissues are a main pillar of Indonesia\u2019s relations with North African\ncountries, underpinned by strengthened cooperation in strategic supply\nchains and infrastructure investment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quo-vadis-the-direction-of-indonesias-relations-with-uma-countries-1784890384", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }