Two tourists were shot dead by the Algerian coast guard last week after mistakenly straying into Algerian waters on water scooters off the coast of neighboring Morocco. Algeria’s Ministry of Defense issued a statement confirming that the coast guard fired at one of the vehicles after multiple warnings. Morocco has so far responded only by stating that the issue is “a matter for the judiciary” and opening an investigation. But the incident highlights the potential for unintended escalation between the two neighbors and historical rivals, whose border has been closed since 1994 and whose diplomatic ties have been severed since August 2021, after months of diplomatic provocations caused tensions to peak. But Algiers did not respond to the king’s overture, in line with a consistent pattern of refusing to engage with its neighbor.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 05, 2023 13:19 UTC