Morocco Closes Embassy in Algeria Amid Diplomatic Rift

As of this Friday, the Moroccan embassy "will close, the ambassador and all staff will be repatriated to Rabat," an official Moroccan source told AFP. On Tuesday, the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, announced that Algeria has decided to break off diplomatic relations with Morocco. Algiers notably blames Rabat for the support of Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the United Nations, for the "valiant Kabyle people", the statements of the Israeli Foreign Minister during his historic visit to Rabat, past incidents, such as the desecration of the Algerian flag at the Casablanca consulate in 2013. For its part, Rabat says it has "taken note" of this "unilateral decision".

This Algerian decision has provoked international reactions. France has called on the two countries to dialogue. The Arab League has called on them to exercise restraint. Saudi Arabia says it is hopeful that relations between the two countries will return as soon as possible. As for the US government, it has taken note of the Algerian decision. However, it "is convinced that improving relations will allow the two countries to better address regional and bilateral issues such as terrorism, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and trade relations".