2 tourists on jet skis shot dead by Algerian coastguard

Friday, September 1, 2023

Two tourists on jet skis were reportedly shot dead by the Algerian coastguard after straying into Algerian waters off the coast of Morocco.

The victims were part of a group of four individuals with dual French-Moroccan nationality who had embarked on their journey from the Moroccan resort of Saidia.

A third member of the group was arrested by the Algerian coastguard, which patrols the closed border between the two nations.

The incident sparked outrage in Morocco after a video surfaced, showing a lifeless body floating in the sea. The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994, and diplomatic ties were severed two years prior when Algiers accused Rabat of hostile acts, a claim that Morocco denied.

Mohamed Kissi, the lone survivor of the group, recounted their ordeal, explaining that they had become lost and run out of fuel before inadvertently entering Algerian waters. He described an encounter with an Algerian dinghy, during which they were fired upon, resulting in the tragic deaths of his brother, Bilal, and their friend, Abdelali Merchouer. Another friend was arrested by the Algerian authorities.

The arrested individual, Smail Snabe, appeared before a prosecutor, but no further details were disclosed. Moroccan officials declined to comment on the incident, deferring to the judiciary. Algeria has not issued an immediate response.

The longstanding tensions between Algeria and Morocco, including their dispute over Western Sahara, have contributed to the strained relationship between the neighboring countries. Their roughly 2,000-kilometer border has been closed since 1994 due to security concerns, stemming from Islamist militant activity, including a bombing incident in Marrakesh. This tragic incident further underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region.

« Back to Page

• Here’s what you need to know about the new alert foreign office has issued for eighteen nations

• Salon International du Tourisme gears to allure Algerian tourism industry

• Wildfires in Algeria leave at least 34 people dead and hundreds injured

• Algeria to issue visas on arrival to tourists

• Algeria & Qatar to jump into tourism