Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced at a press conference on August 24 that his country has decided to break diplomatic relations with Morocco. In his announcement, the foreign minister stated, “History has proven the bad and hostile attitude of Morocco towards Algeria.”
Morocco stated that it did not accept the reasons for Algeria’s decision to cut diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In a written statement made by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that Algeria’s unilateral decision was an expected decision due to the logic of escalating the tension observed recently. In the statement, it was noted that the “groundless and absurd” reasons behind the decision were not accepted in any way, and we regret the decision.
The statement further read that the Kingdom of Morocco will continue to be a reliable and loyal partner of the Algerian people, and it was expressed that Morocco will continue to work with common sense and responsibility for the development of relations with the Maghreb countries.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune last week also had accused Morocco of being involved in the fires that have ravaged the northeast of the country, killing more than 75 people.
The Western Sahara problem has been causing tension in the relations between Morocco and Algeria for a long time. After Morocco took control of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara in 1975, the tension that started between the pro-independence Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, and the Rabat administration continues.
Morocco accuses Algeria of supporting the separatist Polisario Front in the Western Sahara region. It is known that Algeria does not support its neighbor Morocco’s steps in Western Sahara.
Claiming that Algerians were behind a terrorist attack in the city of Marrakech, the Rabat administration began to request visas from Algerian citizens in August 1994. In response to this step, Algeria closed the border gates between the two countries in September 1994.
