Morocco trains Malian imams against Algeria

Morocco signed a convention with Mali to train 500 Malian imams for two years upon a request from the African country in an attempt to face religious extremism threats.

Morocco described this signature as a “religious strategy” against Algeria. Algerian scholars said Morocco would have save money and efforts to stop drug incomes to terrorist organizations.

Morocco launched a new policy in order to get positioned in the Sahel region under the pretext of religious training. Shortly before, King Mohamed the Sixth attended the ceremony of the new Malian president’s inauguration.

Moroccan media reported that the Malian imams will join a special training center in Rabat.

Moroccan academic Idris El Kanbouri told a local electronic newspaper the strategy of his country aims at responding to the Algerian State as its interests are in contradiction with Morocco’s.

Secretary General of the League of the African Sahel’s Imams and scholars Youcef Mechria told Echorouk Morocco says its strategy is meant to fight extremism and terrorism. “Yet, it should have turned its efforts to fight drugs which are exploited by Tawhid and Jihad terror group.”

President of the Zawia National Organization Abdelkader Yacine said Zawias (Traditional schools) in Algeria want to receive students from Mali if it gets an authorization from authorities.

“Morocco’s strategy is weird as it has no borders with Mali,” he added.