Algeria’s Bouteflika sends Moroccan king birthday message despite tensions between the two countries

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has sent a congratulatory message to King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the occasion of his birthday and the anniversary of his enthronement. In the message, Bouteflika expressed his keenness to strengthen ties between the Algerian and Moroccan peoples.

In the telegraphic message published by the state’s Algéria Presse Service on Thursday, Bouteflika said: “While the Moroccan people are celebrating your happy birthday and the anniversary of the glorious Revolution of the King and the people, I am delighted to express to Your Majesty on behalf of Algeria’s people and government, and on my own behalf, our warmest and most sincere congratulations. We call on God Almighty to return this glorious memorial while you and the noble royal family are in good health and happiness and the Moroccan people are in progress, prosperity, and peace and stability.”

President Bouteflika added: “This timeless occasion is considered a milestone in the history of your brotherly country, and a critical step in the path of its liberation and independence. It evokes the notions of struggle and steadfastness that the Moroccan people have been long characterised with. It also reminds us of our two peoples’ struggle to restore national sovereignty and dignity.”

“As I reiterate my congratulations, I ask Almighty God to preserve Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and all your honoured family, and I express my keenness to work with Your Majesty to strengthen the relations and solidarity that exists between our two countries in order to achieve further progress and prosperity for both of them.”

The Moroccan occasion of the Revolution of the King and the People commemorates the anniversary of the deportation of the late Moroccan King Mohammed V to the French island of Corsica on 20 August, 1953 by French colonisers after his refusal to relinquish the throne of Morocco.

Algerian-Moroccan diplomatic relations have been tense over the past 50 years following the Sand War, which broke out between the two countries in 1963 over a border dispute and ended after mediation by the Arab League and the Organisation of African Unity.