Moroccan PM Expresses Regret Over Algeria Rift, Hopes for Normalized Relations

"Morocco favors the higher interests of the peoples of the Maghreb in general and the Moroccan and Algerian peoples in particular," he said in an interview with Maghrebvoices, a US government media outlet. Faced with the current situation, El Othmani is optimistic. "A return to normal relations between the two neighboring countries, Morocco and Algeria; it is a certainty," he stressed, adding that Morocco "must constantly cling to the hope of seeing a unified Maghreb".

It remains to be seen whether time will prove the head of government right. He had expressed the same optimism after former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted from power. "With the new leadership team in Algeria, at least we hope to find solutions with it and that it will not adopt the same hostile behavior towards Morocco [...] The former leaders were very hostile towards Morocco. [...] relations will not be worse than before the fall of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s power," he had convinced himself. But this optimism was dampened by the current president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.