Morocco Blocks Spanish Consulate Appointment of Dual National in Tetouan

The decree appointing Lamri was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on August 23. The Spanish official went to Tetouan in early September to take up his post at the Spanish consulate with his diplomatic passport. But Morocco refused to recognize his residence permit and diplomatic status, according to diplomatic sources cited by The Objective.

"Morocco considers that a dual national cannot have diplomatic accreditation in this country and that is what happened in this case," acknowledged the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifying that, on the principle of reciprocity, Spain also does not recognize the accreditation of Spanish nationals in Madrid, especially not in such sensitive positions as visa management.

This veto is why the current Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, had to renounce her Spanish nationality before taking up her post in Madrid. Her brother, Fadel Benyaich, whom she succeeded, had to do the same to be ambassador of Morocco in Spain between 2014 and 2018.

In Lamri’s case, no one at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knew about his dual nationality. His parents are Moroccan and a Moroccan "cannot renounce his nationality," even if he has acquired another one, it is explained. The person concerned, who has not yet accumulated two years of experience at the ministry, "has been assigned another position," the same sources say, announcing his appointment to the same position at the Consulate General in Manila (Philippines).