Morocco refuses to grant visa for Ferhat Mhenni

In an unusual action, Moroccan authorities refused to grant a visa for the Kabylie’s Independence Movement (MAK) Ferhat Mhenni. This comes as there has been relations rapprochement between Algiers and Rabat after years of blockage, according to observers.

Mhenni was expected to come to Aghadir upon an invitation to attend the 13th edition of Timitar festival due to be organized between July 13th and 16th. He applied for a visa from the Moroccan consulate in France where he lives as a political refugee. Yet, he received a negative reply, a news agency reported citing Mounir Al-Ghaj, a Moroccan activist in charge of organizing the festival.

Mhenni has already received visas from the same consulate using the same passeport. 

Algerian authorities criticized Morocco for supporting Mhenni’s movement and being behind bloody events in the province of Ghardaia. 

This comes as unofficial reports said Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal gave an instruction to a number of prefects in the Kabylian region to hold them responsible for any activity related to Mhenni’s movement. This shows that authorities decided to tight the noose on it inside and outside Algeria.

All it seems that Morocco wants Algeria to support it to join the African Union once again as it quitted it, 36 years ago.

Rabat is still begging Algiers via media and officials to open borders which have been closed since 1994.