King Mohammed VI of Morocco has voiced optimism for a return to normality and the reopening of borders with Algeria, a neighbouring country in North Africa with whom Morocco severed diplomatic ties over two years ago.
In a speech late Saturday to commemorate his accession to the throne in 1999, Mohammed VI, 59, prayed to God for a restoration to normality and the reopening of the borders between our two neighbouring nations and our brotherly peoples.
Since 1994, the borders have been closed, causing families to be torn apart when Morocco accused its neighbour of taking part in a terrorist incident that claimed the lives of two visitors at a hotel in Marrakech. The borders were then shut by Algeria.
Since then, tensions have persisted between the regional rivals, exacerbated by their dispute over Western Sahara, where the Algiers-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence from Rabat’s rule and has declared the territory a “war zone”.
Algeria severed ties in August 2021, accusing Rabat of “hostile acts”, a move which Morocco said was “completely unjustified”.
Israel’s recognition earlier this month of “Morocco’s sovereignty ” over Western Sahara added to tensions between Morocco and Algeria, which called Israel’s move a “flagrant violation of international law”.
In his nationally broadcast speech Saturday, Mohammed VI expressed reassurance to “our brothers in Algeria, their leadership and their people that they will never have to fear malice from Morocco.”
The king calls annually for a rapprochement with Algeria.
