Morocco Welcomes Positive Statements of New German Government

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch (MAP)
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch (MAP)
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Morocco Welcomes Positive Statements of New German Government

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch (MAP)
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch (MAP)

Morocco has welcomed the positive statements and constructive stances recently expressed by the new Federal Government of Germany.

In a statement, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said that it welcomed the "positive statements...which bode well for a resumption of bilateral cooperation and a return to normalcy in the work of diplomatic representations of the two countries in Berlin and Rabat".

"The Kingdom of Morocco hopes that actions will back these statements up to reflect a new state of mind and mark a new beginning in the relationship based on clarity and mutual respect."

In March, Rabat suspended contacts with the German embassy over "deep misunderstandings" on "issues fundamental for Morocco." It ordered all government departments and bodies to abstain from cooperating with the German mission and political organizations.

In May, it recalled its ambassador for consultations and accused Germany of unspecified "antagonistic activism" after the United States in December 2020 recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.

"The Federal Republic of Germany exacerbated hostile acts that are detrimental to the higher interests of the Kingdom of Morocco," read the statement.

The same statement added that the "German authorities act with complicity towards an individual formerly convicted of acts of terror, by disclosing sensitive information communicated by the Moroccan security services to their German counterparts."

The statement referred to radical Islamist Mohamed Hajib, a former detainee who spent seven years in prison on terrorism cases. Hajib is a German national and currently resides in Germany.

Berlin rejected Rabat's request to extradite Hajib through Interpol.

In January, Germany excluded Morocco from attending Berlin Conference on Libya.

The Ministry stressed that Morocco has always been at the forefront of international efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis, questioning Berlin's decision.

Later, Morocco rejected the invitation to participate in the Berlin II Conference on Libya, held in October.



Flooding Kills More Than 20 People in Morocco and Algeria 

A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
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Flooding Kills More Than 20 People in Morocco and Algeria 

A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)

Torrential downpours hit North Africa's normally arid mountains and deserts over the weekend, causing flooding that killed nearly two dozen people in Morocco and Algeria and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.

In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall. The downpours affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.

Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North Africa’s Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.

Officials in Morocco said 18 people were killed in rural areas and 56 homes collapsed. Nine people were missing. Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.

Among the dead in the region, where many tourists go to enjoy desert landscapes, were foreigners from Canada and Peru.

Rachid El Khalfi, Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday that the government was working to restore communication and access to flooded regions in the “exceptional situation” and urged people to use caution.

In neighboring Algeria, which held a presidential election over the weekend, authorities said at least five died in the country's desert provinces. Interior Minister Brahim Merad called the situation “catastrophic” on state-owned television.

Algeria’s state-run news service APS said the government had sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help with emergency response efforts and rescue families stuck in their homes. The floods also damaged bridges and trains.