Why are Algeria’s allegations regarding a supposed real estate ‘confiscation’ are unfounded?

Moroccan diplomatic sources provided extensive clarifications on Monday, March 18th, regarding the unfounded allegations made by Algerian authorities, who contested in a statement a supposed confiscation of seats of Algerian diplomatic representations in Morocco.

Contrary to these allegations, the Chancellery and the Residence of the former Algerian Embassy in Rabat – whose land was indeed offered free of charge by the Moroccan authorities – have not been subject to any “confiscation,” assure the same sources, specifying that these premises remain respected and protected by the Moroccan state, even in the absence of diplomatic privileges and immunities following Algeria’s unilateral rupture of diplomatic relations.

And Moroccan diplomatic sources reiterated that only one building had been the subject of discussions with Algerian authorities. It concerns an unused premises, immediately adjacent to the headquarters of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs located in Rabat.

Moreover, the expansion operation of the headquarters of this department has involved, in recent years, several diplomatic buildings, notably those of Ivory Coast and Switzerland.

Furthermore, the same sources recall that Algerian authorities have been closely involved and duly informed in advance and at all stages, with full transparency, of this procedure for over two years.

Indeed, as of January 2022, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially and repeatedly informed Algerian authorities of the Moroccan state’s wish to acquire the said premises amicably. The Consul General of Algeria in Casablanca was received four times at the Ministry regarding this matter. Additionally, eight official communications were transmitted to Algerian authorities, to which they responded with no fewer than five official communications.

Moreover, in two of their communications, Algerian authorities responded to the Moroccan offer by stating that a “state property evaluation of these assets is underway and they will communicate their conclusions upon finalization,” specifying that “the release of premises and the relocation of its contents will be done in accordance with diplomatic practices once the sale operation is duly finalized.”

Furthermore, Algerian authorities have informed the Moroccan authorities in writing that they “have decided to initiate an expropriation procedure for public interest reasons for certain properties in the area near the People’s Palace, and consequently to reclaim possession of the residence of the ambassador of the Moroccan mission” in Algiers.

Moroccan diplomatic sources further emphasize that contrary to the inaccuracies contained in the statement from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Morocco fully assumes its responsibilities and obligations arising from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, notwithstanding Algeria’s unilateral rupture of diplomatic relations with Morocco on August 24, 2021.

As a result, properties of the Algerian state that no longer host diplomatic or consular premises and do not enjoy the privileges and immunities provided by international law, remain respected and protected by Moroccan law, under the general conditions applicable to property rights in Morocco, specify the same sources.

They assure that Morocco has never been in a logic of escalation or provocation, as it has always worked to preserve a relationship of good neighborliness between the two countries and fraternity between the two peoples, before concluding that it is in this context that the procedure concerning the mentioned premises is at a standstill.