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Rabat – Turikye’s Ambassador to Rabat Omer Faruk Dogan, who has been an outspoken supporter of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara, has been recalled to Ankara, with converging reports suggesting that the decision comes due to pressure from Algeria.
“Rumors about Omer Faruk Dogan’s early withdrawal are varied. His remarks in an interview around five months ago on the highly sensitive Western Sahara issue for Morocco are said to have played a role,” Turkish news outlet T24 has reported.
Suggesting that Dogan’s recalling to Turkiye is directly linked to Algeria’s stance on the Sahara dispute and its dissatisfaction with the ambassador’s remarks, T24 said that “the issue is sensitive and Turkiye needs to adopt a subtle diplomatic stance that will not antagonize Algeria while supporting Morocco.”
The news outlet underlined the Ambassador’s failure to strike this balance in the interview, saying that “he does not take his foot off the gas and favors Morocco too much.”
In an interview with Maroc Hebdo in November 2022, Dogran had expressed Turkiye’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and described the Western Sahara dispute as “purely artificial.”
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The diplomat stressed that the Sahara dispute was a concern for his country, explaining: “In Turkiye, we have a similar problem, and if there is anyone who really understands the feeling of the Moroccan authorities and people, it can only be the Turkish people and authorities”
Commending Morocco’s development projects in the southern regions, Dogran said that the Sahara issue is “a purely artificial conflict that benefits third parties whose objective is to hinder the development of the region.”
In addition, the ambassador commented on the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Algeria, stressing that his country is “ready to help in the process of rapprochement” between the two neighboring nations.
He also emphasized the importance of the diplomatic ties between Morocco and Turkiye. “We are two brotherly countries, allies and strategic partners. Relations between Morocco and Turkey are very deep and rooted in history, dating back to the 16th century,” the ambassador said.
