Morocco forgoes French humanitarian aid over Western Sahara dispute

Following the news of a heavy earthquake killing over 2,500 people dead in Morocco, many countries are offering their help to the North African country. The government in Rabat seems to have declined such aid that was offered by France and Germany over a diplomatic dispute regarding the Western Sahara region.

As reported by Sky News, the French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna has attempted to play down her country's rift with Morocco, calling it a "misplaced controversy".

The former French colony wants the international community to recognize its sovereignty over areas in the Western Sahara, which Morocco has been fighting over with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a country recognized by 46 UN member states, which does not include any EU state.

As France has been improving its relations with Morocco's arch-rival, Algeria, Rabat has pulled its diplomatic envoys from Paris in January 2023. The Deutsche Welle reported, that Morocco had suspended "all contact" with the German embassy in Rabat over Berlin's stance on the Western Sahara region back in 2021.

Caliber.Az reported earlier, that the Moroccan government had so far accepted the humanitarian aid efforts by four countries: Spain, the UK, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.