Morocco’s King Skips Arab Summit in Algeria Amid Regional Tensions

King Mohammed VI has renounced attending the Arab summit starting this November 1 in Algiers. In a statement to the Saudi channel Al Arabiya, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, mentioned the reasons. He notably cited "regional considerations". Other reasons: the publication by the Algerian channel AL24 News of a truncated map of Morocco during the visit of the Moroccan Foreign Minister to Algiers where he participated in the preparatory meeting of the Arab summit and the expulsion of two-thirds of the official Moroccan media delegation.

Mohammed VI had been officially invited by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who had sent a letter to the King of Morocco inviting him to participate in the Arab League summit being hosted by Algiers. The sovereign had agreed to travel to the Algerian capital, accompanied by his son, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan. But the aforementioned reasons led to the cancellation of his participation in this regional meeting. However, Morocco "will actively participate" in the work of this summit, Nasser Bourita assured.