Algeria says fired warning shots before killing Moroccan jet ski tourists

Algeria says its coastguard had fired warning shots before directly opening fire on Moroccan jet skiers who accidentally strayed across the maritime border between the two countries.

Algeria’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the two French-Moroccan men were shot and killed after entering Algerian waters on jet skis near the Moroccan coastal resort of Saidia.

“After multiple attempts, shots were fired on a jet ski,” the ministry said. It added that another body hit by gunshot wounds was recovered the day after the incident which took place on Tuesday.  

“Given that the maritime border area is witnessing intense activity by drug smuggling gangs and organized crime, Coast Guard members fired warning shots,” it added.

Mohamed Kissi, who survived the incident, disputed the Algerian account, saying he did not hear any warning shots.

Speaking in a video published by Morocco’s le360 news site, Kissi explained that the group of friends found themselves in Algerian waters after running out of petrol.

Morocco-Algeria tensions

Tensions have been simmering between Morocco and Algeria.

He went on to say that an Algerian government vessel approached them after dark and started firing on the group.

Kissi said his brother Bilal, 29, and another man, Abdelali Mchiouer, 40, were both shot dead, adding that their other friend, Smail Snabe, was wounded and detained by Algerian forces.

The survivor said he swam to escape until he was rescued by Moroccan maritime police.

According to Kissi, his brother’s body was found by Moroccan fishers and he was buried near the eastern Moroccan city of Oujda on Wednesday.

The incident comes as tensions are high between Rabat and Algiers, stoked by a long-running dispute over the Western Sahara territory.

The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994 and the two countries have had no diplomatic relations since Algiers cut ties with Rabat in 2021.

Moroccan authorities said they could not comment on the case, calling it a judicial matter. The Moroccan prosecutor said it was investigating the “violent incident.”

Algeria accuses Morocco of deadly airstrike in disputed region

Algeria says Morocco has carried out an airstrike in the border area between Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, killing three Algerians.

Morocco’s National Human Rights Council has condemned the killing, urging the release of Snabi whom it said was sentenced “rapidly” to 18 months in jail.

Lawyers for Bilal Kissi and Mechouar said they planned to file a complaint in France on behalf of the two deceased men.

Hakim Chergui, who is acting for the families of the victims, said they are accusing the Algerian authorities of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, the hijacking of a vessel, and failure to assist a person in danger.

The break in diplomatic relations between Morocco and Algeria “does not justify the committing of the least crime and even less so the impunity of those responsible,” said a statement from the lawyers.

France’s foreign ministry said it had learned of the death of one of its nationals and the detention of another in Algeria and was in touch with the families and with authorities in Morocco and Algeria.

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