Algeria PM says opening border with Morocco not on the agenda

Algeria Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia, has ruled out opening the 17 year closed border with Morocco at this moment, saying it will be opened one day or the other.

Ouyahia told a news conference on Sunday in Algiers the capital: “We need an atmosphere of good faith and mutual trust among neighbours,” adding: “but the latest Moroccan official statements accusing Algeria of financing African mercenaries in Libya are unfortunately not encouraging this trend.” 

Mr Ouyahia further added that “there is no conflict between Algeria and Morocco,” stressing that bilateral trade exchanges are “very important.” 

To recall, Morocco comes on top position in Africa in terms of trade exchange rate with Algeria.

However, Algeria Foreign Minister, Mourad Medelci announced last month the existence of a political initiative between the two neignbouring countries aiming at warming up bilateral relations, which likely to lead towards a positive step in the near future. 

Algeria and Morocco relations have been witnessing coldness due to the complexity of the Western Sahara issue, as well as the issue of border which has been closed since 1994.