Watan-A stir has been caused in the past hours due to new developments in tensions between Algeria and Morocco, which constituted a diplomatic breach.
The story revolves around a decree issued by the Moroccan government in the latest issue of the official gazette number 5811, which includes the expropriation of necessary properties, including three properties owned by the Algerian Republic in Rabat, under the pretext of public interest.
Why was the Moroccan decision issued?
This step aims to “expand administrative buildings for the benefit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad in the Rabat commune,” as stated in the decree.
The decision includes the expropriation of properties necessary for this purpose, which are six properties, three of which are owned by Algeria.
Algerian anger
The Moroccan decision sparked Algerian outrage, with its Foreign Ministry condemning the decision and describing it as a “project to confiscate the properties of the Algerian embassy” in Morocco.
Algerian authorities affirmed that they would respond to “these provocations by all means they deem appropriate,” stating that the Kingdom of Morocco has entered a new phase of escalation in its provocative actions towards Algeria. These recent provocations were evident through the project to confiscate the properties of the Algerian embassy in Morocco.
They indicated that they would respond to these provocations using all means they deemed appropriate, and resort to all available legal means, especially within the framework of the United Nations, to ensure the respect of their interests.
Moroccan response
In contrast, the Moroccan newspaper “Hespress,” citing a diplomatic source, stated that Morocco does not seek escalation or provocation against Algeria, affirming that the measures to include the buildings belonging to the Algerian embassy in Rabat “remain unchanged.”
It added that Morocco continues to work on “maintaining friendly relations between the two countries and brotherhood between the two peoples.”
It considered the Algerian Foreign Ministry’s talk of seizing its diplomatic representations in Morocco as mere baseless allegations.
The diplomatic source clarified that the buildings of the consulate and the residence of the former Algerian ambassador in Rabat are not affected by any measures, emphasizing that contrary to what the Algerian authorities claim, the consulate and the residence of the former Algerian ambassador in Rabat, whose land was offered for free by the Moroccan authorities, were not confiscated.
The source confirmed that Morocco respects these principles and protects them, even in the absence of privileges and immunities after Algeria breached diplomatic relations unilaterally, according to him.
He pointed out that Morocco only discussed with Algerian authorities one building, which is essentially unused.
He added, “For more than two years, the Algerian authorities have been fully aware of these measures with complete transparency.”
It is worth noting that Algerian-Moroccan relations have been tense for decades, particularly due to the Western Sahara issue, and the borders between the two neighbors have been closed since 1994.