Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has summoned the Spanish ambassador to convey the government’s ‘regret’ over its decision to allow the leader of a regional group fighting Morocco for independence to access medical treatment in its country.
Spanish officials had last week revealed that Brahim Ghali, 73, is hospitalized in Spain for treatment of COVID-19.
It is common knowledge that Ghali heads the Polisario Front, an Algeria-backed breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state in the Western Sahara region, which has been oftentimes seen engaging the Moroccan armed forces.
The Moroccan foreign ministry stated that Spain’s stance is ‘inconsistent with the spirit of partnership and good neighborliness’. Morocco is seeking an explanation of Spain’s position, the ministry said on Sunday.
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The recent potential diplomatic tension between Rabat and Madrid comes as Spain seeks Morocco’s cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants across the sea to Spanish territory. The Spanish government is also seeking to deepen economic ties with African countries.
An official from Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that Ghali had been taken in ‘for strictly humanitarian reasons’.
Western Sahara stretches along Africa’s Atlantic coast south of the Moroccan resort city of Agadir, and borders Algeria and Mauritania. It has a population of 600,000. It was colonised by Spain in the 19th century and annexed by Morocco in 1975.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, the self-declared government also led by Ghali, says he is ‘recovering favourably’ in an unidentified Spanish hospital.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
