Rabat – An Algerian military airplane landed today in the Torrejon de Ardoz airbase in Madrid amid boiling tension between Spain and Morocco.
Europa Press said that the Algerian plane carried Algerian military personnel who will participate in a series of meetings with Spanish military commanders from the Defence Staff (EMAD).
The news outlet recalled that the arrival of Algerian military personnel comes amid the presence of Polisario leader Brahim Ghali currently hospitalized in Spain.
Ghali entered the San-Millan-San Pedro hospital in La Rioja on April 18 after Spain arranged his entry and transport in collaboration with Algeria.
The Polisario leader used a fake identity and passport to enter Spain, under the name of Mohamed Ben Batouch, where he faces legal charges such as genocide, rape, torture, illegal detention, and kidnapping.
Spain’s decision to host Ghali without notifying Moroccan authorities angered Morocco. On May 23, Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita warned that the tension will escalate if Spain allows Ghali to leave its territories the same way he entered.
Bourita called on Spain to find a solution, emphasizing that any unilateral act could lead to widening the rift or even rupturing ties between Madrid and Rabat.
Since April, when Morocco’s intelligence detected Ghali’s presence in a Spanish hospital, Pedro Sanchez’s government maintained that the decision to host the Polisario leader was due to humanitarian reasons.
Spain also touted cooperation with Morocco but had soon turned its back against Morocco following the mass irregular migration from northern Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Over 8,000 Moroccans and other nationals crossed to Ceuta in recent days. Spain and its media expressed frustration and attacked Moroccan security services, accusing them of laxity and a lack of effort in tackling migratory challenges.
In response, Bourita explained that Spain is looking to avoid the real debate of the crisis by covering behind irregular migration.
The official emphasized that Ceuta events are not behind the crisis between Morocco and Spain.
Bourita said that Morocco does not need to be graded by Spain or its media, emphasizing the country’s key role in migratory management.
“The events in the past few days have shown that 99% of the efforts in the fight are being made by Morocco against ‘nothing on the other side,’” he argued.
For Bourita, Spain must explain to Europe how an EU member country allows people with fake identities to enter into European territories.
Amid frustration and tension, Polisario member Salem Lebsir said that Ghali will leave Spain once he is fully recovered.
He also said that Ghali will not respond to the legal charges against him.
Meanwhile, Spain said that the Polisario leader will not leave its territories before responding to the charges.
It remains to be seen whether Spain will make sure Ghali answers the charges or arranges his exit secretly with Algeria.
