Algeria Opts to Skip 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in Morocco Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Tuesday 19 December 2023 - 14:45

Marrakech, Morocco - The 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum commenced on Wednesday without the presence of Algeria, as revealed by well-informed sources. Despite the anticipated attendance of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf will be notably absent from this distinguished assembly of Arab and Russian diplomats.

This non-participation underscores the recent strains in relations between the North African neighbors. In the lead-up to the forum, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita is scheduled for bilateral discussions on Tuesday with counterparts from Bahrain and Egypt. However, the conspicuous absence of Attaf is particularly noteworthy, especially in the context of the forum's central theme focusing on "economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Arab countries and Russia."

The rift between Algeria and Morocco escalated just last month when Algeria officially severed diplomatic ties with Morocco due to longstanding disputes over Moroccan Sahara. Despite a glimmer of hope following King Mohammed VI's expressed willingness for normalized ties in a November speech, this week's forum underscores the profound divergence that persists between the two rivals. Nevertheless, there is speculation that Algeria may opt to dispatch lower-level delegates to maintain open lines of communication with other Arab states and Russia.