Morocco Did Not Expel the Spanish Ambassador
The Claim
Morocco expelled the Spanish ambassador to Morocco.
News posted on
Emerging story
News websites, social media accounts, and pages are circulating news online that a Spanish newspaper reported that Morocco ordered the Spanish ambassador in Rabat to leave the country. The news alleged that the main reason for expelling the Spanish ambassadors is issues concerning the Moroccan Sahara.
Misbar’s Analysis
MENA: Misbar found the circulating news misleading and suspicious as El Español did not report that Morocco expelled the Spanish ambassador from the country due to disputes over the Moroccan Sahara.
The article, published on June 2, stated that the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Ibrahim Ghali, left Spain on a French civilian plane chartered from Algeria after spending 44 days in San Pedro de Logroño Hospital. The newspaper quoted that Rabat describes Ghali's departure as a "mockery" and believes that Spain facilitated his "escape" to Algeria a few hours after he testified before the National Court and prepared to respond appropriately to this decision.
It is reported that Ghali left Spain a few hours after appearing remotely before the Spanish Supreme Court in a case related to the commission of war crimes.
The Moroccan website, Hespress, denied the circulating. Hespress confirmed that no action had been taken against the Spanish Ambassador in Rabat until the moment. The website also mentioned that King Mohammed VI would decide the Moroccan-Spanish future relations as he decides matters related to the foreign relations of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Morocco World News reported Spain has no intention of calming tensions with Morocco.
