London : The shooting incident that led to the death of two French tourists of Moroccan origin last week, shortly after they entered (by mistake) the Algerian waters in the Mediterranean Sea, is still witnessing interactions.
The British newspaper “Daily Mail” quoted the Le360 news website, saying that the tourists Bilal Kissi and Abdelali Meshouir, both of whom hold French and Moroccan nationalities, were exposed to gunfire from the Algerian navy after they took a wrong turn off the Saidia beach resort on the north-eastern tip of Morocco, where they were spending time. Their summer vacation.
The newspaper adds that the British Foreign Office issued a warning to travelers from the United Kingdom to Morocco, urging them not to cross the maritime border into Algeria.
The British Foreign Office issued a warning to travelers from the United Kingdom to Morocco, urging them not to cross the maritime border into Algeria.
And the text of the warning stated, “The land border between Algeria and Morocco is closed, so do not try to cross it, and that this border extends to the sea. You have enough fuel to be able to get back to shore.”
In new details of the incident as well, the Daily Mail reports on the Le360 website that a third man named Ismail Snape, also a Frenchman of Moroccan origin, was arrested by the Algerian Coast Guard and appeared before the prosecution on Wednesday.
The newspaper also quotes Moroccan media as saying last Thursday that “the group included four men, all of them riding jet skis in the Mediterranean Sea.”
The Moroccan website Al-Omak quotes Mohamed Kissi, the brother of the young man who died, as saying: “We lost our way, but we continued walking until we found ourselves in Algeria after we ran out of fuel.”
He added: “We knew that we were in Algeria because a black Algerian boat approached us, and those on board opened fire on us.”
He continued: “Thank God I was not injured, but they killed my brother and my friend with five bullets, and they arrested my other friend after he was wounded with one bullet,” indicating that the Moroccan navy rescued him and returned him to Marsa Saidia.
Kissi's cousin, actor Abdelkarim Kissi, called on the authorities in Morocco to bring the case before international courts.
This incident coincides with increasing tensions between Algeria and Morocco, which were exacerbated by the hostility between the two countries over the disputed Western Sahara region.
He wrote on social media: "They killed Bilal Kessi, my little cousin, and his only mistake was to cross Algerian territorial waters, after he was on vacation with his friends."
The Daily Mail reports, “This incident coincides with increasing tensions between Algeria and Morocco, which were exacerbated by the hostility between the two countries over the disputed Western Sahara region.”
When asked about the skier shooting incident on Thursday, Moroccan government spokesman Mustafa Paytas declined to comment. He said only: “The matter concerns the judiciary.”
Paris : France has begun discussions with the army in Niger to withdraw part of its forces
The French newspaper “Le Monde” revealed that France has begun discussions with the Nigerian army regarding the withdrawal of its forces from this country located in the Sahel region. Until now, the French authorities have been refusing requests for the withdrawal of French forces in Niger by challenging the legitimacy of the ruling military council. It also rejects the return of Ambassador Sylvain Etty to Paris, and demands the return to power of President Mohamed Bazoum, with whom Emmanuel Macron is still in contact .
Le Monde explained that a month after the ruling military council in Niger denounced the military cooperation agreements between France and Niger, “discussions began about the withdrawal of some French military elements,” according to several French sources.
Le Monde added that Paris is considering redeploying some of its military units in the region, especially in neighboring Chad, or returning them directly to France, noting that at this stage, neither the number of soldiers involved nor the conditions for this departure have been officially determined, knowing that it is currently deployed. About 1,500 French soldiers are in Niger, at three bases: the capital Niamey, Oulam north of the capital, and Ayoro near the border with Mali.
"Keep cooperating"
And “Le Monde” continued, quoting the footnote of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sebastien Licorne, that “exchanges (…) exist locally between the military to facilitate the movement of French military units that have been frozen since the suspension of cooperation in the fight against terrorism.” A month ago, drones, helicopters and planes were stopped. One source insists that the discussions are taking place only between the two armies, and not with the ruling military council, with Paris still not recognizing the government resulting from the coup.
Discussions are taking place only between the two armies, not with the ruling military council, with Paris continuing not to recognize the government resulting from the coup
And the Prime Minister appointed by the military regime in Niger, Ali Mahmani Lamine Zein, confirmed yesterday, Monday, that “exchanges are under way so that the French forces stationed in the country withdraw quickly.” However, he hoped to "maintain cooperation" with France.
The French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, said in an interview with “Le Monde” on Sunday: “Today, it is no longer possible to guarantee this mission, because we no longer have, de facto, operations that are carried out in conjunction with the Nigerian Armed Forces,” without Comment on the possibility of withdrawal.
It's necessitating urgent diplomatic and judicial resolution.
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