Morocco’s E-Visa Sparks Controversy: African Unity Tested Ahead of Major Sports Events

The Algerian journalist Hafid Derradji was one of the first to criticize this decision, calling for the withdrawal of the African selections from the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled in Morocco. According to him, this measure by the Moroccan authorities is contrary to the values of openness. The reaction of Moroccan activists did not take long. They explained that the visa is not a political sanction, but a sovereign right that allows the control of borders, especially with the approach of major sporting events that will attract thousands of visitors.

The electronic visa is a purely organizational measure, which in no way diminishes Morocco’s place as a welcoming destination for African brothers, added a Moroccan journalist, specifying that this measure simply aims to regulate arrivals. In the same vein, observers have stated that Morocco, as a sovereign state, is within its rights to adopt the ways and means to protect its borders and organize the flow of arrivals, without having to justify itself. According to them, the electronic visa is not an obstacle to hospitality, but a modern mechanism of balance between openness and security.