Morocco’s King Mohammed VI used an address on Saturday to “once again” reiterate his openness to restoring ties with Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat last year.
- “We aspire to work with the Algerian presidency so that Morocco and Algeria can work hand in hand to establish normal relations between two brotherly peoples,” Mohammed said during the traditional speech marking the anniversary of his accession to the throne, according to the AFP news agency.
“I stress once again that the borders that separate the Moroccan and Algerian brothers will never be barriers preventing their interaction and understanding,” he added.
The King urged Moroccans to “preserve the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and good neighborliness towards our Algerian brothers”.
Algeria announced in August of last year that it is severing its diplomatic relations with Morocco over what it called “hostile actions” on the part of Morocco.
- Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced the move at a press conference in which he read a statement on behalf of the Algerian President. Lamamra criticized Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who during his visit to Morocco earlier that month made statements against Algeria.
Morocco and Algeria have long been at odds over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where the Algiers-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence from Rabat’s rule.
In 2020, when Morocco became the fourth Arab country to normalize ties with Israel as part of a US-brokered agreement, the US recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Algeria criticized the Morocco-Israel agreement.
The head of Algeria’s largest Islamist party labeled Morocco’s Prime Minister Saad Eddine El-Othmani a “traitor” over his country’s decision to normalize ties with Israel.
Source: Elad Benari – Arutz Sheva