Algeria Imposes Visa Restrictions on Moroccan Passport Holders Amid Rising Tensions

Towards a visa war? According to some observers, it is unlikely that Morocco will make a similar decision and impose a visa on Algerians, as the kingdom is preparing to host continental and global events such as the 2025 Africa Cup and the 2030 World Cup. The Algerian decision "seems, at first glance, to be a decision against Moroccans, but in reality, it is a sly decision intended to provoke a similar response from Morocco, so as to prevent Algerian citizens from entering Morocco and seeing the important progress that embarrasses the thieves of the Mouradia presidency," commented Amine Sossi Alaoui, an expert in the field of propaganda.

Other observers, on the other hand, have warned that allowing Algerian citizens to enter the national territory without a visa would open the door to infiltrators seeking to harm the kingdom as it prepares to host major continental and global events. To support their arguments, they recall the involvement of certain Algerians in attempts to discredit Morocco during the recent attack on the city of Ceuta, as well as the participation of Algerians posing as Moroccan citizens in insulting statements against the kingdom and its symbols.

In 1994, Morocco had imposed visas on Algerians following an attack on the Asni hotel in Marrakech. At the time, Rabat had accused the Algerian intelligence services of being involved in the operation. In reaction to this imposition of visas and the accusations, Algeria had closed its borders with the kingdom.