Algerian Coastguard Shoots Tourists Off Moroccan Coast
In a tragic incident, the Algerian coastguard opened fire on tourists who were vacationing in Morocco, causing the death of two individuals. These tourists, reportedly of dual French-Moroccan nationality, were jet-skiing near the Moroccan resort of Saidia when they unintentionally strayed into Algerian waters.
Among the group of four tourists, a third individual was arrested by the Algerian coastguard. This incident has heightened tensions between the two neighboring nations, which have a longstanding history of disputes related to Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara territory.
The Algeria-Morocco border was sealed in 1994 due to security concerns following an attack by Islamist militants on a hotel in Morocco’s Marrakesh. Additionally, diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed two years ago, with Algeria accusing Morocco of hostile actions, an allegation that Morocco denied.
The shooting incident has elicited outrage in Morocco after a video surfaced, showing a lifeless body floating in the sea. Mohamed Kissi, the sole survivor of the group, shared his account of the tragedy, explaining that they unintentionally drifted into Algerian waters and ran out of fuel. When approached by the Algerian coastguard, the situation escalated, leading to gunfire. Kissi’s brother, Bilal, and a friend lost their lives in the encounter.
The actor Abdelkarim Kissi, who is Bilal’s cousin, has called on Moroccan authorities to take the case to international courts. He emphasized that Bilal and his friends were merely on vacation and had not intended to cross Algerian territorial waters.
As of now, one of the victims’ bodies remains in Algeria, while the other individual arrested by the Algerian coastguard has appeared before a prosecutor.
While the Moroccan government declined to comment, citing the matter as a judicial issue, Algeria has not issued an immediate response to the incident.
This unfortunate event underscores the complexity of the Algeria-Morocco relationship, marked by border disputes dating back to the era of French colonialism, ongoing tension related to Western Sahara, and a closed border with limited legal trade between the two nations.Follow thedailycourierng for more news