Germany Halts Issuance of Schengen Visas in Rabat Due to Allegedly COVID-19 Concerns, Amid Diplomatic Spat With Morocco
The German Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, has stopped receiving applications for Schengen visas this week, following a spat between the two countries.
Despite that the Embassy claims that the processing of applications and issuance of visas has been halted due to the situation regarding the Coronavirus pandemic in Morocco, Moroccan media dubbed the move as ‘suspicious’, claiming that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has been steadily decreasing for months now.
“The reception of Schengen visa applications is suspended for the moment until further notice due to the Coronavirus,” the website of the Embassy notes, giving no further explanations.
The move follows a decision of the Moroccan authorities to suspend all contact with the German Embassy in Rabat due to “deep misunderstandings with the Federal Republic of Germany on fundamental questions of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the latter called on all ministerial departments and all the bodies which come under their supervision to suspend all contact, interaction, or cooperative action with the German Embassy.
According to the Ministry, exemptions from this decision may be made only on the basis of a prior agreement from the MFA.
“Morocco wishes to preserve its relationship with Germany, but this is a form of warning expressing unease over many issues,” a Moroccan official told AFP news agency.
Analysts of international relations believe that the spat between both countries is a result of Germany’s position over Morocco’s stance in sovereign dossiers, including Western Sahara.
Others believe that it is actually caused by Germany’s refusal to extradite a former Morocco terrorist convict called Mohamed Habjib, who currently lives in Germany. The same has spent seven years in a Moroccan prison for terrorism charges.
Since 2017, when he moved to Germany, he has been publishing videos online, accusing Moroccan security services of having subjected him to torture.
Data published by Schengen Visa Statistics shows that in 2019, the most recent data available on Schengen Visa application statistics, 18,681 visa applications were processed by the German Embassy in Rabat. 12,861 of the applicants were granted a visa, while 5,814 other applications were rejected, which makes Morocco have a rejection rate of 31.12 percent of visa applications, one of the highest not only for German Schengen Visas but for all Schengen Visas.
