Faizel Patel – 27/08/2021

Algeria has announced it is cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, accusing its neighbour of “hostile actions”.

Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra says the Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria.

Morocco and Algeria have had strained relations for decades, mainly over the issue of Western Sahara.

Lamamra said the cutting of diplomatic relations is effective from Tuesday but consulates in each country will remain open

Speaking to Radio Islam, political analyst and professor of education science at the University of Rabat Mohamed Chtatou says Algeria has been extremely bitter after the Sand War before it attacked Morocco after gaining independence.

“In 1975 it created the Polisario Front to create problems for Morocco to regain access to its territory in the Sahara region. Since then, all their relations have been extremely bad.”

Chtatou says he does not believe the spat between Algeria and Morocco was ignited by former US President Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump has recognized the Moroccan-Sahara and the Moroccan access to this region. He’s not the problem, he’s just working on historical facts and the fact that Morocco was an empire at some point, in the past in the fourteen and fifteenth century and controlled large swathes of territories in this area.”

Chtatou says he believes that Saudi Arabia, the Arab League the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) may succeed in resolving the dispute between Algeria and Morocco.

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Listen to the interview with Mohamed Chtatou