Following months of tension between the two neighboring countries, Algeria announced on Tuesday, August 24th, 2021, the cessation of diplomatic relations with Morocco.
This was revealed at a news conference in Algiers by the Foreign Minister of Algeria, Ramdane Lamamra who accused Morocco of using Pegasus spyware against its officials, supporting a separatist group, and failing in honoring bilateral commitments, including on the Western Sahara issue.
In a report by Reuters, the minister said, “The Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria,
“Algeria rejects to be subjected to such acts and behaviors. Algeria also rejects the logic of the unilateral policies with their disastrous consequences on the peoples of the Maghreb region. Algeria rejects to maintain abnormality which aims at retaining the countries of the Maghreb region within a constant state of insecurity.”
While announcing the immediate cessation of ties, he further said that consulates in each country, however, will stay open.
In response to this announcement, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on social media that it regretted what it called an unjustified and unilateral decision saying it would remain a “credible and loyal partner” to the Algerian people.
Although the border between the two North African countries has been closed since 1994, diplomatic relations have not been broken since they were restored in 1988 following an earlier dispute.
Morocco has said for years it wants the border to reopen. Algeria has said it must stay shut for security reasons.
Morocco has called Algeria “the real party” to the Western Sahara dispute.