Morocco denies accusing Algeria of mercenary operations in Libya

Morocco has expressed on Wednesday regrets over “unjustified” statements made recently by Algeria Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.

Morocco Foreign Minister Taieb Al-Fassi Al-Fihri said in a communiqué reported by Morocco state run MAP news agency that “far from any occasional consideration or artificial alibi, the Kingdom of Morocco is strongly and sincerely, still insisting on restoring full normalization of bilateral relations with Algeria, for the interest of the two brotherly peoples supposed to be actors for strong and solid relations.”  

To recall, PM Ahmed Ouyahia told a press conference later May that opening land borders with Morocco “is not on the agenda,” adding that “at the moment there is not a good climate for re-establishing trust.” Ouyahia further noted that “The latest Moroccan official statements accusing Algeria of involvement in mercenary operations in Libya, are unfortunately not encouraging this trend.”

 In this regard, MAP statement qualified Mr Ouyahia’s statements as “astonishing,” adding that “no Moroccan official has ever evoked the involvement of Algeria in mercenary operations in Libya, despite the issue had been reported by several international media organs and Libyan opposition members.”