Algeria Recalls Ambassador to Morocco Amid Diplomatic Tensions over Kabyle People

Relations between Spain and Morocco have again deteriorated after the support of Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the United Nations, for the "valiant Kabyle people". Ramtane Lamamra, who "stands as a fervent defender of the right to self-determination, denies this same right to the Kabyle people, one of the oldest peoples in Africa, who suffer the longest foreign occupation," commented the Moroccan diplomat in reaction to the allegations of the Algerian Foreign Minister on the Moroccan Sahara issue during the general debate of the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held by videoconference on July 13 and 14.

The reaction of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not wait. In a statement, Algeria "firmly condemned this serious drift, including against the Kingdom of Morocco itself within its internationally recognized borders. Faced with this situation born of a dubious diplomatic act issued by an ambassador, Algeria, a sovereign and indivisible Republic, has the right to expect an explanation of the official position".

To read:

"In the absence of any positive and appropriate response from the Moroccan side, it has been decided today (Sunday, July 18) to recall, with immediate effect, for consultations, the Algerian Ambassador to Rabat, without prejudice to any other possible measures depending on the development of this matter," the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement.