Algeria has decided to move forward on the issue of its expropriated property in Rabat, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said Tuesday in a press briefing. «This matter arose from Morocco, and we responded in a way that Morocco found suitable. We consider this closed», Attaf cautiously stated. This moderate approach contrasts with the strong warnings issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry on March 17th. In a press release, Algiers threatened to respond in «any means it deems appropriate» to what it called «provocations» by Rabat, including legal action through the United Nations «to ensure respect for its interests». Moroccan diplomatic sources unofficially responded to Algeria's claims, stating that «the Algerian Consul General in Casablanca was received at the Ministry on this subject no less than four times as early as January 2022» to be informed about the planned public utility expropriation. Additionally, «eight official letters were sent to the Algerian authorities, who replied with no less than five official letters». In its response, Moroccan diplomacy also revealed that Algerian authorities «decided in 2022 to initiate a procedure for the expropriation of some properties near the People's Palace, citing public utility, and consequently to repossess the residence of the Moroccan mission's ambassador» in Algiers. This claim is supported by the publication of the Algerian decision sent to Morocco.
