During the Cold War, the late King Hassan II used this conflict as an instrument, drawing a parallel between the Western Sahara conflict and the confrontation between East and West, citing Algerias ideological proximity to the USSR. Morocco is represented in Algeria by an embassy and consulate general in Algiers, as well as two consulates in Oran and Sidi Bel Abbs. October 1963: Algeria and Morocco confronted each other militarily over a border dispute in the so-called Sand War in October 1963 following Algeria's independence on July 5, 1962. [20] The discovery of large deposits of oil and minerals (iron, manganese) in the region led France to define more precisely the territories, and in 1952 the French decided to integrate Tindouf and Colomb-Bechar to the French departments of Algeria. World Cup 2022: Morocco and Algeria: 'Forever brothers' - DW [8] Morocco officially reported to have suffered 39 dead. Algiers and Rabat are involved in another spat as Morocco condemns provocative acts at a football tournament in Algeria. [31] This prompted further attempts at negotiations, but these proved ineffectual as well. [36] Its forces included twenty-two T-34 tanks, eighteen 120-mm mortars, a battery of 57-mm recoilless rifles, anti-aircraft artillery with eighteen guns, and eighteen 122mm field guns with the crews to operate them. [16], The French 19th Army Corps' Oran and Algiers divisions fought the At Khabbash, a fraction of the At Ounbgui khams of the At Atta confederation. It was, therefore, disinclined to support Morocco's historical claims to Tindouf and Bechar or the concept of a Greater Morocco. Incorrect password. The Supreme Security Council in Algeria, headed by Tebboune, accused Morocco of continuing with its hostile acts and called for bilateral relations to be reviewed and security monitoring on the western borders to be tightened. The Moroccan ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, in a note addressed to the members of the conference, seems to have crossed the Rubicon in the eyes of Algeria by declaring that he is in favor of the self-determination of the valiant Kabyle people, the Tamazight-speaking Algerian minority. This week, the difficult situation has been even further exacerbated, with Algeria ending the contract for a gas pipeline that runs via Morocco to deliver gas to Spain. The Sand War led to heightened tensions between the two countries for several decades.