Morocco’s Foreign Ministry has suspended ties with the German Embassy because of “deep misunderstandings,” notably related to the disputed Western Sahara. The move this week comes amid diplomatic tension around Western Sahara since the US under Donald Trump took the unusual move in December of recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory.
A letter leaked online from Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to the rest of the Moroccan government orders officials to suspend “all contact, interaction and cooperation” with the German Embassy and embassy-related activities.
A senior Moroccan government official confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the letter was authentic, but said it was not meant to be made public.
The official, who was not authorized to be publicly named, said the decision has to do with Germany’s recent stance on the Sahara issue, especially in the aftermath of the US decision.
The official also noted the appearance of a flag of the pro-independence Polisario Front outside the state assembly in the northern German city of Bremen. Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it was aware of media reports about the letter, but had no further comment.