Asharq AL-awsat
Rabat – Latifa Larousni
Tensions between Morocco and Algeria resurfaced after a video showing the Moroccan Consul General in Oran, Ahadran Boutaher, calling Algeria an “enemy country” was circulated on social media.
Boutaher’s controversial statement was made while addressing a crowd in Oran. The crowd of stranded Moroccans had organized a protest outside the Moroccan consulate to demand their return home.
The diplomat confirmed that he spoke to the crowd, but denied ever calling Algeria an “enemy country,” claiming that the voice over to the video was fabricated.
Boutaher told the website, “Today 24”, that scene in the video, which shows his meeting with a number of Moroccans in front of the consulate, are all true facts, but the voice is fabricated.
The video went viral on Wednesday, causing controversy.
Algeria said it had summoned Morocco’s ambassador after the video circulated on social media.
Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum summoned the Moroccan ambassador to “confront” him with the alleged remark, the official news agency APS reported, citing the foreign ministry.
The consul general’s remarks, if they were to be established “are a serious violation of diplomatic norms,” read the ministry’s statement.
This is not the first time that the statements of Algerian and Moroccan officials have fueled tension, which is originally due to Algeria’s position on the Sahara conflict. Algeria supports the separatist Polisario Front.
