A flurry of diplomatic activity over the past week has revealed Morocco's renewed focus on pursuing its interests in Africa. But Rabat's complicated relationships on the continent and its claims over disputed territory in the Western Sahara will make the realization of its goals neither easy nor uncontroversial. To meet its goals, Morocco will have to contend with Algeria, its powerful eastern neighbor and one of its top rivals. For decades, the two states' relationship has been marred by hostility and mutual distrust ; they even fought a short war in October 1963 known as the Sand War. Today, Morocco and Algeria remain at an impasse over the status of a disputed slice of land : the Western Sahara. The two still cooperate on certain matters of shared interest.