Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco and tension is mounting in North Africa

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced on Tuesday that his country severed its relations with Morocco, following the “hostile actions” of its neighbor.

“Algeria has decided to sever diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco as of today” Tuesday, the minister said at a press conference. “History has shown that the kingdom of Morocco has never ceased to carry out hostile actions against Algeria ”.

Moroccan leaders “are responsible for the repeated crises, which have worsened” and that “Lead to conflict rather than integration in the region” Maghreb, added Lamamra.

The Algerian High Security Council, chaired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, I decided last Wednesday “Review” relations with Morocco, accused of being involved in the fires that swept through the north of the country.

“The incessant acts of hostility perpetrated by Morocco against Algeria have necessitated the revision of relations between the two countries and the intensification of security controls at the western borders “ an official Algerian statement said.

He alleged a series of circumstances to this rupture, among which he cited the lack of progress in the resolution of the dispute over Western Sahara, in which Algiers is an ally of the Polisario Front.

Algiers called its ambassador for consultations in July after Morocco’s ambassador to the UN endorsed the self-determination of the Kabyle people in Algeria. He also did not appreciate that the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid, questioned from Morocco the role played by Algeria in the region.

The Algerian government also blames Morocco for its alleged support for organizations considered to be terrorists, as well as the espionage with the Pegasus software, of which Algeria would have been a victim, as recalled by Lamamra, who reviewed the various grievances on behalf of Tebune, according to the information portal Everything about Algeria.

King Mohamed VI of Morocco, however, launched earlier this month a message of relaxation to the neighboring country release historical tension and reopen borders that have been closed for a quarter of a century “for reasons that are totally out of date and which no longer have any justification”.

“No logic can explain the current situation, especially since the reasons which led to the closure of the borders are completely outdated and no longer have a reason to exist today”, said the monarch in his speech to the nation on the occasion of his 22nd anniversary of reign.

(With AFP and Europa Press information)

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