King Mohamed VI of Morocco, who was due in Mali for an official visit last week, cancelled his trip at the last minute because of a diplomatic rift between the two countries, Jeune Afrique magazine reports .
Mohamed VI is said to be unhappy about the role Malian officials have allowed Algeria to play in the pursuit of a solution to the fight against rival armed factions in northern Mali.
Morocco has heavily invested in Mali in recent years, funding economic projects and health infrastructure as well as providing training for Malian imams in a move to stem Islamic fundamentalism in the country.
Morocco had therefore hoped the government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita would put an end to Algeria’s role as a mediator and invite it to take over.
But Mali did not only remain close to Algeria, which is Morocco’s main rival in North Africa in its bid for more influence across the continent; it also maintained its recognition of Western Sahara, the disputed former Spanish colony Morocco says is part of its territory.
According to Jeune Afrique, Mohamed VI cancelled the visit out of frustration with the Malian leader for not repaying his generosity.
