Algerian Foreign Minister says Moroccan counterpart «refused to take his calls»

In an interview with Al Jazeera's Atheer platform, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf claimed that his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, refused to take his phone calls following the Al Haouz earthquake, when he wanted to expresses his condolences and offer his country's help. «This proves that political good will was non-existent on the side of the Moroccan authorities», he said.

Ahmed Attaf stressed that the kingdom had rejected the aid offered by Algeria following this earthquake. Rabat had, in fact, declined offers of immediate assistance from several countries, including its traditional allies such as the United States and Saudi Arabia. The kingdom had only accepted help from Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

For the record, on September 11, the Boufarik military airport, located east of Algiers, saw a staging of an operation to send aid intended for the «Moroccan people», with three planes waiting for the green light from the authorities in Rabat.

In August 2021, Algeria refused Moroccan help while fires ravaged forests in Kabylia.