Algeria official: Saudi FM did not discuss rift with Morocco

Algeria’s special envoy to the countries of the Maghreb and Western Sahara, Ammar Belani, yesterday denied reports claiming the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan had discussed the dispute between Algeria and Morocco during his visit to Algiers.

“The mediation issue circulated by media outlets was not raised in the first place; because it was not included on the visit’s agenda,” Belani said, stressing that “Algeria’s position regarding severing relations has not changed and will not change.”

On Tuesday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received Bin Farhan. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the minister’s visit aimed to “strengthen joint cooperation” including bilateral political cooperation that supports regional security and stability as well as “the latest regional and international developments”.

On 24 August, Algeria announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Morocco over Rabat’s “hostile actions”. It provided no details as to what the actions were.

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