Reacciones al discurso del rey Mohamed VI con motivo de la Fiesta del Trono

Morocco's King Mohammed VI called for a 'direct and sincere' dialogue with neighbouring Algeria, its historic rival in the Maghreb, to overcome their disagreements through a joint political mechanism of consultation and cooperation. Mohammed VI's speech this year comes one day later than the Feast of the Throne - which commemorates 22 years since Mohammed VI's coronation in 2021.

The King's speech was thus followed by millions of viewers in several countries, an unprecedented number for an official declaration. The Qatari network Al-Jazeera, the Saudi television channel Al-Arabiya (whose accreditation was withdrawn by the Algerian authorities on Saturday), Bloomberg Orient TV, a television channel of the Bloomberg group, and Sky News, the London-based 24-hour news channel, broadcast King Mohammed VI's speech on Saturday 31 July.

King Mohammed VI devoted this year's throne speech to building bridges with neighbouring Algeria, but did not once mention Spain, the other neighbour with which Morocco has been in a deep crisis since April. During his 15-minute speech, King Mohammed VI called on the Algerian authorities to "overcome the differences" between the two neighbours and initiate a policy "to overcome the obstacles". The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994, and the last meeting between the heads of state was in 2005.

The call is novel for two countries that periodically recall their ambassadors for consultations or issue diplomatic protests against the backdrop of Western Sahara. Since 1994, the two countries have kept their land border closed by Algerian decision, and a wall now stretches for hundreds of kilometres along that border.

Mohammed VI wanted to show his more conciliatory side and said he was convinced that "the security and stability of Algeria and the peace of its people are intimately linked to those of Morocco" and that both countries "face the problems of immigration, smuggling, drug trafficking and human trafficking". The monarch regretted "the media and diplomatic tensions that agitate relations between Morocco and Algeria, which damage the image of the two countries and leave a negative impression".

However, Algeria has yet to respond to this message. In a less conciliatory tone, Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune, in an interview with the French daily Le Point on 3 June, in which he referred to the tensions between Rabat and Algiers, defended Algeria's "honourable" role. "The break with Morocco - and I am talking about the monarchy, not the people, whom we esteem - has long since been trivialised," he explained. "Morocco has always been the aggressor. We never attack our neighbour. We respond if we are attacked, but I doubt that Morocco will try to do so, given the situation of force", the Algerian president pointed out, indicating that the borders cannot be reopened if the Moroccan authorities "attack on a daily basis". 

On the other hand, the King of Spain expressed his "most sincere congratulations and best wishes for the wellbeing of the sovereign and the Royal Family" of Morocco, according to MAP. Felipe VI, who said he was speaking on his own behalf "and on behalf of the Spanish government and people", expressed to the Alaouite sovereign "best wishes for health and prosperity to the very dear friendly Moroccan people". On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General indicated that he "counts on the Kingdom of Morocco to help strengthen the United Nations and build a better and more peaceful world for all".

The reality is that, in the face of troubled relations with its northern neighbours, Morocco is increasingly looking to Russia and China, with whom it has excellent ties. The local press yesterday reported congratulatory messages from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Chinese President, for his part, declared himself "very attached" to the development of relations between China and Morocco, expressed his determination to work together with the King to deepen mutual political trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and pursue cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, with a view to raising the Sino-Moroccan strategic partnership to a higher level, for the benefit of the two countries and the two peoples.

Similarly, the Russian President welcomed the friendly relations between Morocco and Russia, expressing his conviction that "thanks to our joint efforts, we will continue to develop constructive bilateral cooperation" in various fields, to satisfy the interests of the two peoples and to consolidate security and stability in Africa and the Middle East.