Moroccan Singer Asmaa Lamnawar Declines Algeria Concert Amid Diplomatic Tensions

"I refuse to sing in Algeria," Asmaa Lamnawar responded to Ali Alalyani, the host of the "Marahel" show broadcast on the Saudi general channel (SBC) who questioned her about the possibility of her visit to Algeria to give a concert. The singer justified her choice by the tensions between Morocco, her country, and Algeria, which unilaterally severed Moroccan-Algerian relations in August 2022. She also recalled King Mohammed VI’s outstretched hand to Algeria in order to appease Algerian-Moroccan relations, which the Algerian authorities have always refused. A refusal "devoid of meaning," qualifies the interpreter of "Andou Zine".

The singer’s patriotic spirit was praised by Moroccan Internet users, but strongly criticized by Algerian cyber-activists. Kada Benamar, host of the Echorouk News channel, accused Lamnawar of "plundering the Algerian heritage."