Algeria Expels Moroccan Diplomat Amid Growing Tensions

Algeria has expelled Moroccan diplomat Mohamed El Soufiani on March 27, accusing him of engaging in "suspicious" activities contrary to his diplomatic role, marking an escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Mohamed El Soufiani, the Moroccan vice-consul in Oran, was declared "persona non grata" by Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. The ministry stated that his actions violated Algerian and international laws, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The decision follows a series of strained relations between Algeria and Morocco, which included the breaking of diplomatic ties in August 2021 due to hostilities between the two nations.

In response to the expulsion, Khaled Chihani, acting Consul General of Morocco in Algeria, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This decision follows previous diplomatic tensions, including an incident in 2020 when the Moroccan consul in Oran referred to Algeria as an "enemy country" during the COVID-19 crisis, a remark that led to an official protest from Algeria.

The expulsion of Mohamed El Soufiani highlights the ongoing diplomatic rift between Algeria and Morocco, continuing a period of tense relations marked by previous incidents and mutual distrust.