In a disquieting maritime incident that has sent ripples through North African diplomatic circles, two Moroccan tourists, who also held French citizenship, met a tragic end. They were fatally shot by Algerian forces after inadvertently straying into Algerian territorial waters on their jet skis.

Bilal Kisi and Abdelali Marshour were vacationing in Saidia, a picturesque city nestled in northeastern Morocco. As evening approached on that fateful day, the duo, accompanied by two other compatriots, found themselves adrift, their jet skis running low on fuel. Unbeknownst to them, they had crossed an invisible maritime boundary into Algerian waters.

An eyewitness account to “Le360”, a Moroccan news outlet, paints a harrowing picture. After a terse exchange with an Algerian coast guard patrol, shots rang out, cutting short the lives of Bilal and Marshour. Mohammed, Bilal’s brother and one of the survivors, recounted the chilling moments, emphasizing that they posed no threat and were clearly unarmed.

The incident has not only ignited public outrage but has also cast a shadow over the already strained relations between Morocco and Algeria. With longstanding disputes over territories like the Western Sahara and recent espionage allegations, this incident adds another layer of complexity to their diplomatic ties.