Morocco Withholds Ambassadors to Spain and Germany Amid Diplomatic Tensions

"The Foreign Affairs [ministry] does not comment on the sovereign decisions of another state," the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs simply stated when asked to explain why Morocco has left Spain and Germany without heads of diplomatic missions.

The Moroccan Royal Cabinet published the list of Moroccan ambassadors appointed to several countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, Australia, Norway, as well as several African countries. The positions in Madrid and Berlin, which were without Moroccan ambassadors, have not been filled.

To read: Spain Urged to Mend Ties with Morocco to Avert Economic and Diplomatic Fallout

Spain and Morocco have been going through a serious diplomatic crisis since April, triggered by the arrival in Spain of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front. This was followed by an unprecedented migration crisis with the massive arrival of migrants in Ceuta in May. Since then, Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, is working to restore relations on new foundations.

To read: Germany Seeks to Mend Ties with Morocco Amid Diplomatic Thaw

Morocco is also maintaining an open crisis with Germany since May, when it summoned its ambassador to Berlin in response to "hostile acts" that it attributes to the German authorities questioning Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.