Morocco’s Foreign Minister Reportedly Opposed Border Reopening Amid COVID Concerns

31 January 2022 – bySylvanus · 1 min read

The Moroccan government’s decision to reopen the airspace from February 7 next did not seem to have been unanimous. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, is said to have opposed it.

During the last cabinet meeting held last Thursday, only Nasser Bourita opposed the decision regarding the reopening of the airspace which had been closed since November 29, 2021, reports the Arabic daily Assabah. He felt that "the health security of Moroccans was more important than the reopening of borders". This position of the Moroccan diplomatic chief almost delayed the announcement of the government’s decision by 48 hours. But the announcement was made on Thursday night at 10:30 p.m.

The government announced the reopening of the airspace to flights departing and arriving in Morocco from February 7 next. "This decision comes in accordance with the legal provisions relating to the management of the state of health emergency and following the recommendations of the scientific and technical commission and taking into account the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the kingdom," it said in a statement.

Category: Morocco

Keywords:

Nasser Bourita Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Government Council