Algeria Reinstates Visa Requirement for Moroccan Passport Holders Amid Security Concerns

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | September 26th, 2024 — In a decisive move, the Algerian government has reinstated the requirement for all foreign nationals holding Moroccan passports to obtain a visa for entry into Algeria, effective immediately. This decision, announced on Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, marks a significant shift in the country’s immigration policy, driven by rising security concerns.

Despite the severance of diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021, Algeria had previously maintained a policy that allowed for the free and fluid movement of people between the two nations, out of respect for the deep human and familial ties uniting the Algerian and Moroccan peoples. This gesture of solidarity was a reflection of Algeria’s commitment to fostering connections between the two brotherly nations, even in the face of political rifts.

However, the statement from the Ministry reveals that Morocco has exploited the visa exemption regime to carry out activities that directly threaten Algeria’s stability and national security. According to the communiqué, the Moroccan state has been implicated in orchestrating large-scale operations linked to organized crime networks, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, espionage, and illegal migration. Additionally, the deployment of Zionist intelligence agents, traveling under Moroccan passports, has further exacerbated concerns about the security of Algeria’s borders.

These actions, Algeria asserts, constitute an immediate and serious threat to its national security, prompting the need for strict control over all entry and residency points across the country. The statement underscores that the reimposition of visa requirements is a necessary response to safeguard Algeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The Kingdom of Morocco bears full responsibility for the current deterioration of bilateral relations due to its hostile actions towards Algeria,” the statement concludes, placing the onus on Morocco for the breakdown in diplomatic and neighborly relations between the two nations.

This move marks a pivotal moment in the strained relationship between Algeria and Morocco, signaling Algeria’s unwavering stance on protecting its national security amidst escalating tensions in the region.

 

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