Algeria’s visa move, a non-event in Morocco

Few days after Algeria re-introduced visa entry requirements on Moroccan passport holders, Morocco has not reacted to a decision that comes in a series of self-harming escalatory and provocative measures by a disillusioned Algerian military regime blinded by Morocco phobia.

The Algerian foreign minister said the measure will have immediate effect and came following what it described as an “abuse” by Morocco of the visa-free entry to send in “Zionist” spies and set up criminal gangs engaging in all sorts of trafficking.

As was the case with the accusations sugarcoating Algeria’s one-sided cut of diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, the Algerian foreign ministry failed to provide whatsoever evidence for its long list of accusations.

The decision is another nail in the coffin of the Maghreb union and its freedom of movement tenet. It is also a violation of a bilateral treaty signed by the two countries in the 1960s on the freedom of movement.

Morocco has not reacted to the Algerian sovereign decision which, according to Moroccan analysts, would only hurt families from mixed marriages and ordinary citizens.

Algeria has banned all Moroccan aircrafts from crossing its air space, cut the flow of Algerian gas to Morocco and boycotted trade crossing Moroccan ports, to mention but a few unilateral measures that ended up hurting the Algerian economy.

Context

The visa imposing is seen by Algerian opposition in exile as a means to distract from the failure of the recent presidential elections.

Tebboune was declared winner of a vote marred by contradictory figures that were decried by candidates themselves.

While foreign observers estimate the turnout at a mere 10%, the Algerian regime has inflated the figure to 46%, despite turnout nearing zero in the breakaway Kabylia region.

The Algerian escalatory move also came amid growing support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.

The Algerian visa decision was declared the same day the Elysee confirmed a visit to Morocco by French president Emmanuel Macron, who backed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the autonomy plan as the only option.

As the Algerian south suffers insecurity, under-development and a surge in malaria cases, the Moroccan south, or the Sahara, is witnessing a development push including Morocco’s Atlantic largest port in Dakhla, renewable energy projects, and vast hydrocarbons and phosphates production expansion plans.