Algeria condemns Morocco’s ‘provocation’ after attempt to confiscate embassy assets

Algeria has condemned a plan put forward by the Moroccan government to confiscate the Algerian embassy’s properties in Rabat, describing it as “a new phase of escalation” and “provocative and hostile behaviour” from its North African neighbour.

Last week, the Moroccan government issued a decree in the Official Gazette ordering the confiscation of the Algerian embassy’s buildings in Rabat as part of a plan to expand the administrative buildings of its Foreign Ministry.

A law that gives the government power to confiscate infrastructure for public sector projects would be used to seize the properties.

“Algeria condemns in the strongest terms the comprehensive robbery operation and strongly denounces its illegitimacy and incompatibility with the duties and obligations that any member state of the international community should bear,” Algeria’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

Algeria accused Morocco of breaching international law, including the Vienna Convention, which calls for the protection of diplomatic missions regardless of circumstances.

The confiscation is “inconsistent with civilised, international practices”, the Algerian government said.

“The Algerian government will respond to these provocations by all means it deems appropriate and will resort to all available legal means.”

The Algerian government vowed to take its plea to the UN for review. Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021 after accusing it of backing “terrorist groups” who allegedly started wildfires in north-eastern Algeria.

The wildfires destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and killed about 90 people, including 30 soldiers.

Since 2021, Algeria’s diplomatic representation in Morocco has decreased to the lowest possible level. The country has no ambassador in Morocco and its embassy only maintains consular services for Algerians in the country.

Relations between the two countries have further deteriorated in the past few months, amid a territorial conflict and a decades-long row over Algeria’s support for the separatist movement in Morocco.