Officials say the decision was due in part to a ‘deep misunderstanding’ in Berlin’s position over Western Sahara.
Morocco has suspended communications with the German embassy in the North African kingdom in part about what officials standing in Berlin said about the Western Sahara conflict.
In the letter sent to the prime minister late Monday and published by Moroccan media, foreign minister Nasser Bourita said the decision to suspend dealings with the embassy as well as German cultural groups was taken in response to “A deep misunderstanding” of “fundamental issues for Morocco”.
“Morocco wants to preserve its relations with Germany but this is a kind of warning expressing dissatisfaction on many issues,” a senior foreign ministry official told AFP news agency.
“There will be no communication until we get answers to the various questions we asked.”
Morocco was angry with former US President Donald Trump recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as a result of moves by Rabat to normalize its relations with Israel, the official said.
It was also disappointing that he was excluded from talks on Libya’s political future at a conference in Berlin in January 2020.
The moves showed “disrespect” by German authorities, the chief executive said.
Morocco has good relations with Germany. Three months ago, Morocco’s foreign minister declared “the excellence of bilateral cooperation” after Berlin released 1.39 billion euros ($ 1.6bn) in support of Moroccan financial reforms and countermeasures. coronavirus.
There was no immediate voice from the German embassy in Rabat.
The Algerian-backed ceasefire, Polisario Front, seeks to establish an independent state for Western Sahara, a vast desert area that Morocco has held since the Spanish withdrawal in 1975 and which Rabat considering its southern division.
The region has been on the United Nations list of non-autonomous territories, a position also adopted by the African Union, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the European Union.
To date, a referendum has not been maintained, with the main points including the creation of electoral lists, especially since efforts have been made on both sides to shift the demographics of the region in an effort to influence. bring the results.
The area is home to about 500,000 people, mostly living in the capital, Laayoune.