On July 29, King Mohammed VI of Morocco expressed confidence in the prospect of normalizing relations and opening the border with Algeria amid escalating tensions between the two sides over the dispute over the Western Sahara region.
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| King Mohammed VI has repeatedly called for normalization of relations between neighboring countries Algeria and Morocco. (Source: AFP) |
The border between Morocco and Algeria has been closed since 1994. In 2021, Algiers decided to unilaterally sever relations with its neighbor, which included stopping the operation of the gas pipeline to Spain via Morocco and closing its airspace to Rabat.
Despite Morocco's repeated calls over the years to reopen its border with Algeria, Algerian President Abdelmedjid Tebboune recently asserted that relations with Morocco have reached a "point of no return."
Relations between the two sides have deteriorated since the dispute over Western Sahara. While the Algerian-backed Polisario Front wants to establish an independent state there, Morocco claims sovereignty over the territory.
The King of Morocco once said: "I pray to the Almighty that everything returns to normal and that the border between two neighboring and brotherly countries and peoples is reopened."
He also expressed satisfaction with Israel's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Algiers later strongly criticized the decision and expressed concern over the growing security cooperation between Rabat and Tel Aviv.
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