Drought Sparks Water Tensions Between Morocco and Algeria

"Is a water war imminent between Morocco and Algeria?", wonders Jeune Afrique, evoking the recent statements of the Algerian Minister of Irrigation, Taha Derbal, who holds Morocco responsible for the uprisings recorded in early June in the city of Tiaret, in northwestern Algeria, due to the scarcity of water.

The "irresponsible behavior" of Morocco would have "disrupted the ecological balance" at the border and led to the "drying up of rivers and wadis" in Algeria, said the Algerian official who threatened to "bring the situation before international bodies".

For its part, Morocco has denied these accusations from Algeria, arguing that it "does not share any of its rivers or wadis with another country" and that it exploits its water resources "in a responsible and sustainable manner".

Unlike Algiers which only accuses its neighbor, Rabat is trying to find radical solutions to the water crisis caused by the drought, analyzes the magazine which fears that this crisis may turn into a conflict between the two countries which no longer have diplomatic relations since 2018 and are diametrically opposed on the Sahara issue.