UN Chief Urges Morocco-Algeria Dialogue Amid Airspace Dispute

"The Secretary-General is firmly convinced that it is important for the two countries (Morocco and Algeria) to engage in positive dialogue to resolve their outstanding issues, given the importance of the two countries in the region," said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for Antonio Guterres, during a press conference held Thursday, September 23 at the permanent headquarters of the United Nations in New York. "We want the two countries to maintain the best possible bilateral relations," he added.

On Wednesday, Algeria had decided to "immediately close its airspace to Moroccan civilian and military aircraft and those with a Moroccan registration number due to the "continuation of provocations and hostile practices on the part of Morocco".

On August 24, the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, had announced that Algeria had decided to break off diplomatic relations with Morocco. Algiers accuses Rabat in particular of supporting Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the United Nations, for the "valiant Kabyle people", the statements of the Israeli Foreign Minister during his historic visit to Rabat, past incidents, such as the desecration of the Algerian flag at the Casablanca consulate in 2013.