Rabat– The Algerian government has ordered Moroccan Deputy Consul General in Oran, Mohamed Sefiani, to leave the country within 48 hours, officially declaring him persona non grata.
This decision follows a meeting on Thursday between Khalid Chihani, Acting Manager of the Moroccan Consulate in Algeria, and Mokhtar Amine Khelif, Director General of Protocol at the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Algerian authorities cited “suspicious actions” as the reason for the expulsion, but specific details regarding these actions have not been provided.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Sefiani’s alleged actions were deemed incompatible with his role as a consular official and violated Algerian laws and international regulations, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
This development comes amid ongoing political tensions between Morocco and Algeria. In 2021, Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco, accusing Rabat of being responsible for the devastating wildfires in the Kabylie region. Morocco strongly rejected these accusations, calling them unfounded.
The strained relations are further exacerbated by Algeria’s continued support for the Polisario Front, an Algeria-backed separatist group that undermines Morocco’s territorial integrity over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara.
The decision to expel the Moroccan diplomat only adds fuel to the ongoing rift between the two nations, with Algeria continuously showing its frustration at the growing support they Morocco is receiving for its autonomy plan on the world stage. Despite these tensions, Morocco has repeatedly expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with Algeria.
In his Throne Day speech in July 2022, King Mohammed VI reiterated Morocco’s commitment to improving relations, stressing that the closure of borders should not hinder mutual understanding between the two peoples.
As of now, the diplomatic situation remains tense, with Morocco rejecting Algeria’s actions and urging for a more constructive approach to resolving their differences.
