Algeria blamed Morocco on Wednesday for a roadside bombing that killed three Algerian truck drivers, an accusation leveled amid mounting tensions between the North African neighbors over disputed Western Sahara.
On Monday, “Three Algerian nationals have been cowardly murdered after their vans have been barbarically bombarded,” read a statement from the Algerian presidency carried by the Algerian Press Service state information company.
The truckers have been reportedly driving on a street linking the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, to the Algerian metropolis of Ouargla. Algerian web site Mena Defense, which revealed a video exhibiting the burned vans, reported that the incident passed off between the cities of Ain Bentili and Bir Lahlou.
“A number of elements pointed to Morocco’s occupation forces in Western Sahara as having dedicated this cowardly homicide with refined weaponry,” the Algerian assertion stated. “Their homicide is not going to go unpunished.”
Morocco has not but responded to the allegations. Agence France-Presse quoted an unnamed Moroccan source as saying the dominion “has by no means focused and can by no means goal Algerian residents.”
Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in August, citing Rabat’s alleged use of the Israeli-developed Pegasus spy ware in opposition to Algerian officers, supporting a separatist group and different “hostile actions.”
The Moroccan International Ministry dismissed the accusations and pledged to stay a “credible and dependable companion for the Algerian folks.”
Ties between the North African neighbors have been already strained over Western Sahara, the place the Algeria-backed Polisario Entrance has for many years fought Morocco for management of the territory.
As a part of the US-brokered deal establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco final yr, former President Donald Trump reversed a long time of US coverage to acknowledge Morocco’s sovereignty over long-disputed Western Sahara.
In a US-led decision on Friday, the United Nations Safety Council voted to increase the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara for one more yr. The decision known as on each events to abide by a three-decadelong cease-fire that broke down in November 2020.
