The Algerian Supreme Security Council decided yesterday to close the country’s airspace to all Moroccan civil and military flights, the Algerian presidency announced, Reuters reported.
The decision, which comes less than a month after Algeria cut off diplomatic relations with Morocco, was made “in view of the ongoing provocations and hostile practices on the part of Morocco,” the statement said.
The ban applies to all aircraft bearing Moroccan registration.
Last month, Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco over a statement by the Moroccan ambassador to the United Nations in support of the Algerian region of Kabylie.
A spokesman for Moroccan Royal Air Morocco (RAM) said Algeria’s decision would affect 15 flights a week connecting Morocco with Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt. He said flights could be diverted over the Mediterranean and the impact of the ban would be “negligible”.
Algeria terminates its diplomatic relations with Morocco due to hostile actions by the kingdom. This was stated yesterday by Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtan Lamamra, world agencies reported.
“Algeria has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Morocco as of today,” Lamamra told a news conference.
Following a meeting of Algeria’s Supreme Security Council last week, it was stated that the country “will reconsider its relations with Morocco because of the continuing hostilities between the kingdom and its ally, the Zionist formation (Israel), against Algeria.”
In addition, last week, Algeria accused Morocco of “supporting two terrorist movements” operating in Algerian territory – the Movement for Autonomy of Kabylia and the Rashad movement. Authorities say activists from both organizations were also involved in forest fires in northern Algeria this month.
On July 18, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Morocco for consultations. The reason was an official note circulated by Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN, Omar Hilal, among the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. The document said in particular that official Rabat “openly and clearly supports the right to self-determination of the people of Kabylia” – a region in northern Algeria. Algeria called Hilal’s statements “hateful, dangerous and provocative”.
Photo: Ramtan Lamamra, Algerian Foreign Minister (Associated Press)
