Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Living
  • Others
    • Housing
    • Jobs
    • Education
    • Community
    • Expat life
  • Abu Dhabi Week
X (Twitter)
  • Editorial Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact
X (Twitter)
Dubai Week
Subscribe
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Living
  • Others
    • Housing
    • Jobs
    • Education
    • Community
    • Expat life
  • Abu Dhabi Week
Dubai Week
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Living
  • Others
  • Abu Dhabi Week
Home»Travel»From the Sand War to Reconciliation .. Tensions between Morocco and Algeria
From the Sand War to Reconciliation .. Tensions between Morocco and Algeria
Travel

From the Sand War to Reconciliation .. Tensions between Morocco and Algeria

Rolf ColonBy Rolf ColonAugust 25, 2021Updated:June 15, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

He brought back the last tightness in between Morocco Algeria highlights the relationship between the two countries that has seen multiple stations for decades.

For decades, because of the thorny file of the Western Sahara, relations between these two powerful forces in northwest Africa went further and further down.

The Policario Front Liberation Front on Morocco and the Western Sahara confronted each other in the conflict over the Western Sahara since the Spanish colonial exodus in the 1970s.

Morocco controls 80% of the Western Sahara and proposes to grant autonomy under its sovereignty.

The former cut to interest

And if Algeria I announced yesterday that I would sever ties with Morocco because this issue has occurred between the two sides before.

On March 7, 1976, Morocco severed diplomatic relations with Algeria after recognizing the “Sahrawi Republic” declared by the police at the time.

Sand war

But before that the tension began. In 1963, following a series of border incidents, a “sand war” broke out between the two neighbors.

The “Green March” in 1975, in which 350,000 Moroccans took control of the Western Sahara, led to the deterioration of relations between the two countries.

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

Agreement on freedom of movement

But on February 26, 1983, King Hassan II of Morocco held a bilateral summit on the border with Algerian President Chadli Bentjet.

Then, this meeting, especially in April of the same year, will re-allow the freedom of the residents of both countries.

Then in May it was agreed to allow free movement of people and freight and open routes and railways between the two countries.

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

Resumption of diplomatic relations

On July 11, 1987, he met with Algerian Foreign Minister King Hassan II. The Moroccan foreign minister then visited Algeria in November.

Later, Algeria and Morocco announced the resumption of diplomatic relations and the official opening of borders between them.

On June 7, King Hassan II visited Algeria for the first time in 15 years, attending the Emergency Arab Summit.

The visit of Algerian President Benjamin Netanyahu was the first visit by an Algerian president to Morocco since 1972.

At that time, the oil pipeline project to connect Algeria with Europe via Morocco was approved.

Similarly, a ceasefire was created between the two parties, and the ratification of Morocco’s June 1972 agreement in June 1992 put an end to border disputes, which led to the eruption of the “sand war”.

Boundary closures

However, on August 16, 1994, Morocco condemned the statements of Algerian President Liam Gerald, in which he described the Western Sahara as an “occupied country.”

On August 26, Morocco attacked Algeria after it attacked a hotel in Marrakesh and forced Algeria to obtain a visa to enter its territory, killing two Spanish tourists. Rabat blamed Algerian security forces for the attack.

Algeria closed its borders with Morocco.

However, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika attended the funeral of King Hassan II in Rabat on July 25, 1999, which eased some tensions.

However, the beginning of this compromise was quickly undermined by the massacre of 29 people in southwestern Algeria. At the time, Poteflicka accused Morocco of facilitating armed infiltration into its country.

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

Break the ice

In March, however, several meetings between President Bouteflika and King Mohammed VI of Morocco contributed to “breaking the ice.”

In July 2011, the King of Morocco announced his support for the reopening of land borders and the normalization of relations with Algeria. Several months later, Bouteflika reaffirmed its determination to re-establish relations for the benefit of both countries.

Then, in December 2019, King Mohammed VI called on the new Algerian President Abdelmadjit Debou to open a “new page” in his congratulatory message.

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

From the Moroccan-Algerian border (AFP archive)

However, in December 2020, Algeria reiterated, “The issue of Western Sahara is an issue of colonialism, which has renewed the unrest between the two parties.

Then, in July 2021, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Morocco for “consultation” on the Western Sahara file.

The final chapter of the turbulent relations announced on August 18 that Algeria had decided to “reconsider” its relationship with Morocco, accusing it of being involved in a massive fire that spread across the north of the country.

On August 24, the foreign minister again announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Morocco, and Rafat regretted the move.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleThe “Sharjah Administrator” reviews reports on “economic growth” and “jobs”
Next Article Learn how to plan calls in FaceTime
Rolf Colon

"Creator. Award-winning problem solver. Music evangelist. Incurable introvert."

Related Posts

Many in the UAE are eyeing international travel in 2025: Allianz Partners Travel Index

July 2, 2025

Celestyal launches 2027 programme

July 1, 2025

Pullman Dubai Downtown Debuts Middle East’s First Official Roland-Garros Suite in Collaboration with ALL Accor

June 17, 2025

Sailing in Style: Seven Yachts Redefines Luxury on Dubai’s Waters

June 16, 2025
Business

Annual financial results 2024 : Bosch records strong growth in the Middle East

By Stuart WagnerJuly 10, 20250 Business

Bosch registered AED 2.3 billion (574 million euros) sales in the Middle East. Consumer Goods,…

Majid Developments Unveils Arlington Park, Combining Smart Design and Lifestyle Appeal in Dubai Land

July 10, 2025

From Renting to Owning: More UAE Drivers Choose Flexibility Over Financing in New Ownership Trend

July 10, 2025

Simplified Car Ownership for New Residents and First-Time Buyers

July 10, 2025
X (Twitter)
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
© 2025 Dubai Week

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.