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Algeria cuts off ties to Morocco amid Western Sahara spat

Published

5 years ago

August 25, 2021

Algeria has officially cut off ties with Morocco, according to a statement issued by Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Tuesday.

This the Foreign Ministry said was due to an extended conflict mainly revolving around the Western Sahara.

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry in a statement on Twitter said it regretted the “completely unjustified but expected decision in view of the escalation observed in recent weeks.’’

“Morocco categorically rejects the fallacious, even absurd, pretexts underlying the decision,’’ the statement said.

According to the statement, the Kingdom will continue to be a loyal partner for the Algerian people.

Morocco claimed large parts of Western Sahara, while Algeria backs the Polisario movement, which was fighting for the territory’s independence.

Morocco controls large parts of the territory, but this was not recognised internationally.

Former U.S. president Donald Trump had promised to approve Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, and Morocco normalised relations with Israel in return.

But the move prompted fears in Algeria that Israel might provide military support for Rabat, which could have a destabilising effect.

The spat has also caused tensions with European countries that reject Morocco’s claims.

After a Spanish hospital treated the leader of the Polisario movement earlier this year, Morocco relaxed its border controls with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, leading thousands of migrants to cross the border.

Morocco also recalled its ambassador from Berlin in May, likewise due to the conflict.