Tensions between Morocco and Spain over the hospitalization of Brahim Ghali, head of the Polisario in a hospital in Logroño, not far from Zaragoza under an assumed name of Mohamed Ben Battouche, of Algerian nationality do not abate. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans living abroad denounces the “à la carte relationship” that Madrid maintains with Rabat.
The subject of contention remains the same: the admission of the “President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)” to Logroño, not far from Zaragoza, in Spain, on April 21, under a false identity. In an interview with EFE, Nasser Bourita expressed his disappointment. He says he addressed questions to his Spanish counterpart on the admission of Brahim Ghali to Spain on the sly and with a false passport and the lack of reaction from the Spanish justice to the many complaints filed by the victims of the Polisario leader without receiving the slightest answer.
An attitude that leads the head of the diplomacy to say: “We will see if the reality and the sincerity of our relationship is not just a slogan”. In the eyes of Nasser Bourita, the fact that Spain accepted the admission of Brahim Ghali to a hospital in Logroño for “humanitarian reasons” is proof that the Spanish authorities preferred to “close their eyes” to “atrocities”. “Committed by the” president of the SADR. “He is a rapist who has tolerated slavery, torture, the use of child soldiers and genocide, and Spain knows this more than anyone,” said Nasser Bourita. “Does Spain want to sacrifice its relationship with Morocco for this person?” He asks himself.
The minister also recalls that Morocco supported Spain when Carles Puigdemont, MEP and former Catalan president was working for the independence of Catalonia. “When Spain had to face separatism (Catalan, Editor’s note), Morocco was very clear at the highest level. We rejected any contact and any interaction with them while informing our partners (Spanish, Editor’s note). When they (the Catalans, Editor’s note) asked to be received, we demanded the presence of a representative from the Spanish Embassy,” Nasser Bourita assured.
The head of Moroccan diplomacy castigates an “à la carte relationship” with Morocco which maintains “political, economic, commercial, human and security” links with Spain. “When it comes to scheming with Algeria and the Polisario, Morocco is off the radar, but when it comes to talking about migration or terrorism, Morocco becomes again important,” he said.
