Water Conflict Between Morocco and Algeria: Impacts of Climate Change

General Michael Langley, the US Africa Commander, has noted that African nations are encountering “new and unstable challenges, including climate change,” and emphasized the growing issue of desertification.

A year ago, Morocco, a key ally nestled on the northwest periphery of the Sahara Desert, took significant measures to counter the adverse effects of climate change. Specifically, the country began constructing a series of dams aimed at better regulating its increasingly erratic water resources.

The dam, expected to be finished between 2026 and 2029, is designed to mitigate the effects of frequent and severe flooding while helping Morocco adapt to prolonged droughts. Yet, while these dams may help stabilize Morocco’s domestic conditions, they could simultaneously contribute to regional instability.

One such dam, with a projected reservoir capacity of 35 billion cubic feet, is located merely 19 miles from the Algerian border. The watershed feeds this reservoir by flowing southeast, away from Morocco and toward Algeria.

While this dam secures water for Moroccan communities, it also curtails water availability for over 300,000 Algerians living nearby.

Water from the OUED GUIR and OUED Zousfana Rivers drains eastward from the rugged Atlas Mountains in Morocco, forming a distinct watershed that serves as the principal water source for the Bekal and Tindouf provinces in Algeria.

These semi-arid regions exceed the land area of the UK or Italy and rely heavily on the Saura watershed for drinking water, agriculture, and industry.

Bekhar, an Algerian city just 37 miles from the Moroccan border, is not a mere desert outpost; it has evolved into a thriving regional center.

The river that shares its name flows through the town, flanked by palm trees. With a university offering programs in medicine, biology, political science, and more, it caters to about 15,000 students. There’s even a contemporary oncology hospital.

Nearly all (98%) of Bechar’s 35,000 households have access to running water, electricity, gas, and internet. These resources face potential threats from Moroccan dams that obstruct the flow in the Saura basin.

A recent conference hosted by Bekal University discussed equitable water management. Experts from Algerian universities and geopolitical specialists gathered to examine the repercussions of Moroccan dams on their communities, alongside successful case studies of cross-border water management strategies.

The simmering dam dispute between Morocco and Algeria mirrors similar conflicts worldwide, amplified by climate change.

For instance, disputes over river usage like the Tigris and Euphrates involve neighboring nations like Turkey and Iraq, or Ethiopia and Egypt regarding the Nile. Despite their often challenging negotiations, some parties seek equitable solutions for cross-border water sharing.

Negotiations, while necessary, can be complex. As per the United Nations 1992 Water Treaty, countries sharing water resources must do so “in a reasonable and fair way,” ideally resulting in mutually beneficial compromises.

Sadly, Algeria and Morocco appear far from such a resolution.

Morocco’s unilateral approach to water resource management adversely affects Algeria, intensifying desertification in the Sahara and potentially displacing hundreds of thousands of Algerians. The lack of diplomatic ties means there’s no formal avenue for negotiating fair water usage.

Bechar is not only marked by its palm-lined river but also hosts Algeria’s third military region, complete with extensive military infrastructure.

In May, Algeria’s Chief of Army Oversight conducted military drills that showcased tanks, drones, and other heavy weaponry within proximity to the Moroccan border and the dams.

With an estimated defense budget of $25 billion for 2025, Algeria’s military spending is the highest in Africa, almost double that of Morocco.

For Algeria, disruptions to the Saura basin are viewed as infringements on its sovereignty. Langley recently visited Morocco and underscored the importance of collaborating to tackle the destabilizing impacts of climate change.

Yet, nations must ensure their preventative measures don’t inadvertently foster instability. The Moroccan dam effectively addresses potential crises in its own territory, while enhancing tensions in Algeria.

As a major non-NATO ally, the U.S. maintains strong ties with Morocco, having signed a Free Trade Agreement and normalized relations with Israel through the Abraham Accord.

The U.S. is in a prime position to advocate for a cooperative agreement between Morocco and Algeria regarding fair management of shared water resources, ideally under the UNESCO guidelines.