Mediterranean Sea: Jet Ski drivers were killed by Algerian Coast Guard bullets

Two tourists riding a motorcycle were killed by the Algerian coast guard while crossing the maritime border between the two North African countries on the Mediterranean, according to Moroccan media reports. Frenchmen Bilal Kissi and Abdelali Marchour, who hold French and Moroccan passports, were shot after they took a wrong turn in front of the resort of Saidia in northern Morocco, which attracts tourists, on the Algerian border. Le360 reported on Thursday, citing a witness.

A third French-Moroccan tourist, Smile Sanabi, was arrested by the Algerian Coast Guard. He was brought before the public prosecutor on Wednesday, Le360 newspaper reported, citing “identical sources.”

We ran out of fuel

According to Le360, the group on Tuesday consisted of four men. So everyone was on jet skis. The Moroccan website Al-Omak quoted Bilal Kissi’s brother, Mohamed Kissi, as saying, “We are lost.” Thus, he and his companions ran out of fuel. “We knew we were in Algeria because a black Algerian boat approached us” and the people on board “shot at us,” he said.

Fortunately, he did not hit himself. But his brother and friend were killed after being hit by “five bullets.” Eventually, the Moroccan Navy arrested him himself and returned him to the port of Saidia.

Stressed relationships

When asked about the alleged shooting incident of jet ski passengers on Thursday, Moroccan government spokesman Mustafa Paytas declined to comment. He added that this is “a matter for the judiciary.” Algeria did not initially comment on the incident.

Relations between Algeria and Morocco have been tense for decades. Among other things, this relates to the situation of Western Sahara. While Morocco considers the oil-rich Western Sahara part of its national territory, the Polisario Front, an independence movement active in Western Sahara, is fighting for independence with the support of Algeria.

The border between the two North African countries has been closed since 1994. Algeria cut ties with Rabat in 2021 after accusing the neighboring country of “hostile actions” – an accusation Morocco described as “completely unjustified.”

(AFP/CHK)