Expropriation case exposes Algeria’s double speak

After Morocco announced its decision to expropriate a villa owned by the Algerian state for public utility purposes, Algeria’s foreign ministry issued a statement that shows that victim discourse, fake news, and conspiracy theories have become a standard tactic.

Morocco has decided after years of waiting to lawfully expropriate a villa owned by Algeria to expand the foreign ministry’s premises. The two countries had agreed that Morocco would offer the current headquarters of the Algerian embassy in exchange for returning the villa and building adjacent to the foreign ministry to the Moroccan state.

The Moroccan decision was published in the official gazette and the owner of the real estate (the Algerian state) has two months to appeal.

Faithful to spreading deep fakes to portray itself as a victim, Algeria issued a statement fraught with allegations such as describing Morocco’s lawful move as a “confiscation” and an “escalation”, saying it would respond and seek UN intervention.

The Algerian statement deliberately sows confusion by claiming that Morocco is “seizing” the premises of the Algerian embassy in Rabat!

“Contrary to what the Algerian authorities claim, the Chancellery and Residence of the former Algerian Embassy in Rabat – whose land was donated by the Moroccan authorities – have not been “confiscated” in any way,” Moroccan media said citing a diplomatic source.

The source said Morocco remains committed to protecting Algeria’s embassy even though Algeria has unilaterally decided to cut diplomatic ties.

It explained that the building subject to the expropriation decision is unused and that the enlargement of the foreign ministry headquarters in the previous years included similar moves involving diplomatic buildings of Côte D’Ivoire and Switzerland.

The Moroccan diplomatic source added that Morocco expressed on multiple times to the Algerian consul in Casablanca and sent multiple correspondences expressing a wish to acquire the building.

The Algerian response to Morocco’s correspondences was that they will assess the offer in line with diplomatic practices. Later they informed the foreign ministry that they would take possession for “public utility” of the premises of the Moroccan ambassador’s residence in Algiers, the source said.

In keeping with neighborliness, Morocco will continue to protect the buildings of the Algerian state despite the latter cutting ties.

After backing Polisario separatists for decades to unsettle Morocco, unilaterally cutting ties with Rabat, ending flow of gas through Morocco, preventing all Moroccan aircrafts from crossing its airspace, and banning transshipment or import of goods transiting through Moroccan ports, Algiers still bluntly speak of Moroccan “aggression”!

Algeria’s hostility to Morocco has become endemic, leading to irrational decisions verging on insanity. Last summer, Algerian coast guard shot at Moroccan jet sky tourists who strayed into its waters, killing two!