Morocco recalls ambassador to Algeria

Morocco on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultation on relations between the two countries, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

This decision comes after a growing number of “provocative” and “hostile” acts by Algeria toward the kingdom, particularly a speech by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at a meeting in Nigeria’s Abuja on Monday, according to the statement.

The Algerian president called for a mechanism to protect Sahrawi rights following a U.S. proposal in April, which was rejected by Morocco and dropped later, to task the UN peacekeeping force in the Western Sahara with a human rights monitoring mandate.