Morocco’s recent devastating earthquake has prompted Algeria to temporarily set aside their long-standing hostilities. This development marks a significant shift, considering that the border between these two powerful North African nations has remained closed since 1994. Algiers severed diplomatic ties with Rabat in 2021, accusing Morocco of various hostile actions, including espionage, support for separatist groups, and failing to uphold bilateral commitments, particularly concerning the disputed Western Sahara territory. Morocco vehemently denied these allegations as “absurd.”
Algeria initially offered slower condolences than other neighboring countries but later declared its willingness to open its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights. The Algerian Foreign Ministry also extended an offer of aid to Morocco, highlighting a rare moment of unity despite past tensions. Notably, during recent deadly wildfires in Algeria, Morocco had extended aid offers that Algiers publicly disregarded.
Despite the rocky relations between their governments, ordinary Algerians and Moroccans maintain deep historical and cultural ties. Many citizens expressed solidarity with their neighboring nation on social media, emphasizing the importance of humanitarian assistance over political differences.
Djalal Hamdaoui, a retired teacher, voiced the moral obligation Algerians feel towards their Moroccan neighbors, saying, “Despite the zero diplomatic ties between our two countries, we as Algerians have a moral obligation to help the Moroccans because they are brothers and neighbors.”
Abdelkader Bengrina, the leader of the Islamist party Harakat Al Bina, echoed this sentiment, urging the government to prioritize assistance to Morocco: “We urge the government to go beyond the differences and provide all help to the brotherly people of Morocco.”
The earthquake, the deadliest in Morocco since 1960, has resulted in over 1,000 confirmed deaths by Saturday afternoon. The international community has expressed condolences and offered aid to address the dire situation in Morocco, underscoring the gravity of the tragedy.
