Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that the Moroccan people are a brotherly nation, stating that talk that they are being expelled from Algeria is “nonsense”.
In an interview with Algerian television channel TV1, Tebboune added: “Moroccans are welcome, and they live among the people and work in the Algerian market. We would not expel any Moroccan from Algeria. We are imposing visas purely for security reasons.”
“The Moroccans who were arrested as part of security investigations that led us to impose the visa will be tried publicly,” he added.
The rumours spread after Algeria reinstated visa requirements for all Moroccan passport holders wishing to enter the country, accusing some of criminal activity in its territory, including “Zionist espionage” and “drug and human trafficking.”
Tebboune said smuggling should stop because Algeria is in the process of establishing free trade zones with neighbouring countries. He noted that Algiers is not thinking of joining the BRICS organisation, stating that its interest is focused on joining the BRICS bank, which is no less important than the World Bank.
Read: Algeria imposes visa requirement on Morocco passport holders