Algeria Imposes Visa Requirement on Moroccan Passport Holders, Citing Security Concerns

The justifications given by the Algerian authorities regarding the imposition of a visa for Moroccans are absurd and belong to the realm of the imaginary, comments Khalid Chiat, professor of international relations at the University Mohammed Iᵉʳ in Oujda to the site Al3omk, stating that Morocco will not respond to Algeria with a futile measure.

According to him, the Algerian claims about a security threat from Morocco are more a matter of political manipulation than concrete facts. To support his point, he points out that this rhetoric is frequently used by the Algerian government whenever internal tensions arise, thus seeking to create an external enemy to strengthen national cohesion.

The Algerian justifications aim to anchor a stereotypical image of the Moroccan, designated as a "marroki" in the Algerian imaginary, adds the expert, specifying that the Algerian authorities are trying to make believe that any Moroccan can represent a threat.

Addressing the disproportionate nature of this measure, the expert explains that it affects thousands of innocent citizens and compromises relations between the two countries. This measure is not just a diplomatic issue, but it infringes on the fundamental rights of individuals, observes Chiat.

Finally, he calls for constructive dialogue between the two nations, rather than actions that only exacerbate tensions and undermine regional cooperation.