Summary:

On 27 March 2025, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) summoned the Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Algeria, Khalid Chihani, to inform him that the Moroccan Deputy Consul General in Oran, Mohamed Al-Sufyani, had been declared persona non-grata and was required to leave Algeria within 48 hours.

The MFA explained that it considered Al-Sufyani’s suspicious behavior inconsistent with the nature of the exercise of his duties at the consulate and constituted a violation of Algerian law. The MFA further alleged that al-Sufyani’s activities were counter to relevant international laws and norms, in particular the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).

These events come as diplomatic tension between Algeria and Morocco have been on display within the UN. Algeria denounced the lack of a human rights mandate in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) while Morocco’s representative in UN judged Algeria’s claim an attempt to distort the MINURSO mandate.                       

Outlook: 

The latest developments reflect the tense relations and mistrust between the countries which have taken strong positions on their policies toward Western Sahara. With the expulsion of a diplomat from Algeria, Morocco is likely to seek a means to retaliate proportionately in response.

The diplomatic tensions are likely to continue fueling an arms race between the two countries as a means of communicating their commitment to their policy positions. Both Morocco and Algeria have been importing sophisticated weapons systems from Russia, the US and Israel, among other suppliers.

The rivalry between Algeria and Morocco is also on display in the form of competing transregional oil pipeline projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Both projects have been slow to develop as regional cooperation remains hindered by diplomatic tensions.

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