Algeria expropriates but does not want to be expropriated

An expropriation case in Rabat has exposed the extent of endemic misinformation of the Algerian regime, who issued a strong-worded statement claiming to be unaware and wrongfully denouncing a confiscation, until it was discredited by its own documents.

Official Algerian correspondences leaked to Moroccan media showed that Algeria was fully aware of Morocco’s intent to acquire the buildings that the Kingdom has offered to Algeria to serve as its embassy.

The building is immediately adjacent to the foreign ministry and is part of the real estate that will be expropriated for public utility to expand the ministry’s headquarters.

Prior to the expropriation procedure, Morocco has been expressing to Algerian consul and in 8 correspondences its intent to reach an agreement regarding the villa amicably since 2022.

In one of the responses, and before even Morocco launched its expropriation procedure, the Algerian consulate in Casablanca informed the foreign ministry that Algeria will expropriate the residence of the Moroccan ambassador in Algiers due to its proximity to the People’s Palace for “public utility” purposes.

However, the Algerian statement last Sunday failed to tell the truth that Algiers was the first to launch an expropriation procedure!

Algeria is ill-positioned to speak about neighborliness after its decades-long support for an armed separatist group against Morocco, unilaterally cutting ties with Rabat, demonizing the Kingdom in its official discourse, cutting gas supplies, banning all Moroccan aircrafts from crossing its airspace, and preventing any trade with Morocco including transit through Moroccan ports.

In return, Morocco has kept an open arms policy urging Algeria to open borders and has promised to protect the headquarters of the Algerian embassy- whose land was offered for free- even when the very concept of an embassy does not apply in the absence of diplomatic ties.