A warm embrace between Moroccan and Algerian FMs after decades of tension

Despite deteriorating diplomatic relations between their two countries Algerian Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, shared a warm embrace during a meeting of foreign ministers of Western Mediterranean countries in Algeria yesterday.

Relations between the neighbouring countries have been tense for decades due to the Western Sahara issue. Algiers supports the Polisario Front’s demand that the region be independent from Morocco which is refused by Rabat.

Watch: Western Sahara explainer

The Algerian foreign minister tweeted pictures of himself welcoming the ministers, with the post, “Welcoming the foreign ministers participating in the 5+5 dialogue ministerial meeting. I am happy that all the ministers have attended this important meeting.”

The Moroccan minister’s participation remained unconfirmed until the last minute, as there were leaks of his potential absence due to the tension between the two countries in recent months.