New Diplomatic Appointment by Morocco
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently announced the appointment of approximately twenty new consuls across its diplomatic missions in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. Among these appointments, Mohamed El Hassani Idrissi has been designated as the new Consul General of Morocco in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria. This move comes in the context of ongoing diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Algeria, which have been strained since August 2021 when formal relations were severed. Despite this break, Morocco has opted to keep its three consulates in Algeria operational, located in Algiers, Sidi Bel Abbès, and Oran. The purpose of maintaining these offices is to continue providing essential administrative services to Moroccan citizens residing in Algeria.
Continued Operations Despite Diplomatic Strain
It is noteworthy that Algeria also maintains two consulates in Morocco, situated in Casablanca and Oujda. The former Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramtane Lamamra, indicated during the official announcement of the diplomatic rupture that both countries' consulates would continue to function and serve their respective citizens living across the border. In a related development, in March 2024, Algerian authorities appointed two new consuls in Morocco, and three months later, Morocco reciprocated by appointing a new head for its consulate in Algiers. This ongoing exchange highlights the complexities of diplomatic relations between the two nations, balancing cooperation in specific areas despite broader political disagreements.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
