Algeria has announced the implementation of visa restrictions on Moroccan citizens, accusing its neighboring country of engaging in activities that threaten its national security. The decision, announced on Thursday, follows ongoing tensions between the two North African nations, with Algeria citing concerns over alleged espionage, as well as drug and human trafficking operations.
According to a statement released by the Algerian government and reported by the state-run APS news agency, Morocco is accused of allowing “Zionist espionage agents” with Moroccan passports to enter Algeria without restrictions. The statement also accused Morocco of facilitating organized crime activities, including drug and human trafficking, within Algerian borders.
This latest escalation in the diplomatic conflict comes after the two countries severed formal diplomatic ties in August 2021. Algeria had at the time accused Morocco of engaging in “hostile acts,” a move that followed Morocco’s decision to normalize relations with Israel. The diplomatic fallout has since widened, with borders between the two nations remaining closed since 1994.
Earlier this month, authorities in Tlemcen, a city near the Moroccan border, reported the arrest of seven individuals, including four Moroccan nationals, allegedly involved in a spy network. The arrests, which occurred just ahead of Algeria’s upcoming presidential elections, have further fueled tensions.
Despite the growing diplomatic rift, Algeria emphasized in its statement that it remains committed to maintaining a positive relationship with the Moroccan people, whom it described as “brotherly.” The statement, however, placed the blame for the deteriorating relations squarely on the Moroccan government, accusing it of “hostile and aggressive actions.”
“The responsibility for the current state of bilateral relations rests solely with the Moroccan regime,” the statement concluded.
With the introduction of visa requirements, travel between Algeria and Morocco is expected to become even more restricted, exacerbating the already tense situation between the two countries.
