On Wednesday, Algeria accused two groups it recently designated as terrorist organizations of carrying out devastating forest fires, adding that one of them was supported by Morocco and Israel.
The president’s office said police had arrested 22 people for starting the deadly fires, but said the ultimate responsibility lay with the Rashad group and MAK, an autonomy movement for the most Amazigh-speaking Kabylie region.
Algeria designated both groups as terrorist organizations this year. The presidency said on Wednesday that the MAK “receives support and assistance from foreign parties, in particular Morocco and the Zionist entity”, referring to Israel.
Neither Moroccans nor Israeli Foreign Ministries were immediately available to comment on the allegations.
Algeria and its most populous neighbor Morocco have had poor relations for decades, with algae supporting the armed Polisario movement seeking independence for Western Sahara, an area that Rabat sees as its own.
Algeria does not recognize Israel and refers to it in official statements only as the Zionist entity. Israel said this month that the country and Morocco would soon establish full diplomatic ties.
Forest fires have ripped across North Africa this month but have been strongest in Algeria, causing injuries and casualties in several provinces, especially in Tizi Ouzou in the Kabylie region, east of the capital Algiers.
“Security services will continue their efforts to apprehend the rest of those involved … and all who belong to the two terrorist organizations,” the presidency said after a meeting of the High Security Council.
Last month, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Rabat after a Moroccan diplomat in New York urged the Kabylie people to have the right to self-determination.
In a speech in July, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI called for better relations with Algeria and the opening of their long-closed borders. Rabat offered to send help to fight the fires, but Algeria did not respond publicly.
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