Former French Diplomat: Algeria’s Longstanding Rivalry with Morocco Rooted in Presidential Jealousy

Abdelaziz Bouteflika "could not stand the French being so friendly with the King of Morocco. That drove him crazy," said the former French diplomat in a statement to Journal du Dimanche. To support his remarks, he recalled an interview he had - he was traveling with journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabach - with the former Algerian president. Bouteflika "talked to us for more than half an hour, very angry at Jacques Chirac for his frequent visits to Morocco and his close ties with the king." He said he was "terribly jealous" of the relations between Paris and Rabat. These relations would, according to observers, be one of the reasons that prompted Algeria to break off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021.

The one who spent more than three years in Algeria as French ambassador also stated that visas are "the only thing that interests Algeria in its relations with France".