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Ahram Online
The Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL), Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Arab Parliament urged Algeria and Morocco to exercise self-restraint after Algerian authorities cut diplomatic relations with Rabat on Tuesday.
“Both Algeria and Morocco are essential for joint Arab action, an official from the AL general secretariat said, hoping that they will restore their good relations to maintain stability in the region”.
Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced on Tuesday, the cessation of his country’s diplomatic ties with Morocco, saying, “history has proven time and again Morocco’s constant hostilities against Algeria”.
In the wake of Algeria’s announcement, Morocco expressed its “regret for this decision, which is completely unjustified yet expected given the logic of escalation over the recent weeks”.
“The kingdom will remain trustful and sincere to the Algerian people and will continue to work with wisdom and responsibility in order to develop sound and constructive relations with Algeria”, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry added in a statement.
The Arab Parliament voiced its “utmost concern over the developments in the relations between the two countries”. In its statement, the Arab Parliament called on both countries to “prioritise their brotherly ties and work to serve the interests of their peoples”.
“Algeria and Morocco are both heavyweight in the Arab and regional system. They should continue to bear the responsibility of enhancing Arab solidarity and overcoming differences and schisms”, the statement stressed.
The Algerian move to cut ties with Morocco comes after Algeria accused Morocco of being complicit in the deadly forest fires which have been ravaging Northern Algeria.
Fires broke out on in Algeria on 9 August amid a blistering heatwave burning tens of thousands of forest hectares and killing at least 90 people, including more than 30 soldiers”, according to the AFP.
On Tuesday, Algeria’s Foreign Minister accused Moroccan leaders of being “responsible for repeated crises and behaviour leading to conflict instead of integration in North Africa”.
Lamamra’s statement, read out on behalf of Algeria’s President Abdel-Madjid Tebboune, said “Morocco’s unfriendly, hostile, and despicable acts against Algeria began after Algeria’s independence”. He cited incidents back in 1963 and 1976.
“Algeria demanded clarification from the Moroccan authorities following this incident”, Lamamra said, “however, the continued silence of the Moroccan side since 16 July 2021 clearly reflects the political support provided by the highest Moroccan authority for this act”.
Last July, Morocco’s envoy to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, voiced support for the right to self-determination for Algeria’s traditionally restless Kabylie region, a stronghold of the country’s Amazigh (Berber) minority.
Hilale’s comments sparked anger among Algeria’s political class and on social media, with Algerians defending the country’s territorial unity.
