Algeria announced on Thursday the reinstatement of visa requirements for Moroccan passport holders, citing national security concerns.
The decision was made public in a statement from Algeria’s Foreign Ministry following the contested re-election of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Algerian authorities attributed the policy shift to vague threats to national stability, mentioning various security challenges. In a statement published by the state-run APS news agency, the government declared: “The government has decided to immediately reinstate the requirement of entry visas for all foreign nationals holding Moroccan passports.”
The statement further cited activities allegedly “detrimental” to Algeria’s national security, including organized crime, drug and human trafficking, smuggling, illegal immigration, and espionage.
Algeria also accused Morocco of harboring “Zionist intelligence agents” using Moroccan passports in efforts to infiltrate Algeria.
Since Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained. Algeria has repeatedly accused Morocco of attempting to destabilize its internal affairs, making various allegations over the years.
In July 2021, Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Morocco of using Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to monitor Algerian officials and citizens.
Shortly thereafter, Algeria also blamed Morocco for a series of devastating wildfires that claimed 90 lives in August 2021. Despite these allegations, Algeria has provided limited evidence to substantiate its claims.
In recent months, tensions have continued to escalate. Algeria’s military leadership accused Morocco of conspiring against the country. More recently, Algeria claimed that Moroccan and Israeli actors were behind a cyberattack on the official Algerian News Agency’s website, though the attack was reportedly thwarted by Algerian cyber defense units.