Morocco recalled its ambassador in Berlin, it denounces “hostile acts” on the part of Germany towards the Shereefian kingdom this Thursday. An additional complication in diplomatic relations between the two countries, in crisis since last March. Morocco had “suspended all contact” with the German embassy in Rabat, for “profound misunderstandings” on various issues.
This Thursday, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry came out of its silence to explain the reasons for the quarrel with Berlin. The tone of the press release is very strong; it indicates the level of tension between the two countries. According to Rabat, Germany has accumulated hostile positions and “attacking actions” with regard to the higher interests of the kingdom, which prompted the ambassador’s recall to Berlin “for consultation”.
Morocco denounces in the first place, the position of Germany vis-à-vis the question of Western Sahara: “a negative attitude“, noted the press release. He also denounces an “antagonistic activism” following the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over this territory disputed by former US President Donald Trump. A recognition that took place in December 2020 a little over a month before the latter’s departure from power.
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry also deplores Germany’s “continued determination” to combat Morocco’s regional role, particularly in the Libyan dossier. Rabat, who was not invited to the Berlin conference on the future of Libya in January 2020, has never forgiven Germany for this decision.
Finally, Rabat accuses Berlin of “complicity with regard to a former convict of terrorist acts” and of having disclosed to him sensitive information from Moroccan intelligence and communicated to their German counterparts. Officially, the name of this German-Moroccan national has not been revealed, but it is Mohamed Hajib, sentenced in 2010 in Morocco to ten years imprisonment for “terrorism“, a sentence reduced to five years in early 2012 , and who regularly publishes criticisms of Morocco on social networks.
Germany says it was not informed in advance of this decision and did not understand the accusations contained in this press release, asked for “explanations” from the Moroccan side.
