Algeria Urges Locals In Eastern Morocco to Evacuate Farms Before March 18

[Chakib larbi]

Rabat – Locals from the city of Figuig in eastern Morocco are stunned after receiving a notice from Algeria to evacuate their farms located in El Arja, near the Algeria-Morocco borders.


Amid the confusion, many citizens are calling on the Moroccan government to clarify regarding the situation of farmers, who stand to lose their lands in El Arja, north-eastern Figuig.

Algeria, which claims the territory containing the farms, has called on the group of Moroccan farmers to evacuate the place before March 18.

Photos and videos have gone viral of locals from Figuig protesting Ageria’s move inside a Moroccan territory.




One of the videos shows a farmer who owns a big domain of palm trees.

The man emphasized he had been working in the land for three decades and was very surprised to be notified by Algerian soldiers to leave the region before March 18.

The farmer said he and his family have worked in their domain for 30 years.

“Please share this live [streaming]. This is unfortunate,” the speaker filming the live streaming said.

The filmer called on Facebook users to share the video to convey the Moroccan farmers’ cry for help.

“They told me to leave the region or else they will arrest and imprison me,” the owner of the farm said.


As the farmer dwelt on his pain and confusion, the speaker behind the mobile camera urged the Moroccan media to highlight the situation. He also called on Moroccan authorities to intervene, saying that El Arja is “a Moroccan land.”

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In protest against Algeria’s ultimatum, a group of farm owners organized a sit-in this weekend; they carried banners and chanted slogans in defiance of Algeria’s demand that they leave “our lands, livelihood, and ancestral memories” behind. .

A treaty on the existing border between Algeria and Morocco does not clarify the status of the El Arja region.

The treaty dates back to 1972 and was published in 1992 in Morocco’s official gazette.

It remains to be seen whether Morocco will take action or clarify the situation in the near future.

The incident takes place amid escalation of tensions between Morocco and Algeria.

The Algerian government is insisting on harming Morocco’s territorial integrity, reiterating support for Polisario and its separatist aspirations.


Algeria also recently interfered in Morocco’s domestic affairs by repeatedly decrying its sovereign decision to establish ties with Israel.

Most recently, following Morocco’s decision to to adopt a bill legalizing the production of cannabis for therapeutic and medical use, a number of Algerian officials accused Morocco of seeking to spread “the scourge of drugs” in North Africa and Algeria in particular.

Figuig: Algeria Urges Farmers In Eastern Morocco to Evacuate Farms Before March 18

Rabat - Locals from the city of Figuig in eastern Morocco are stunned after receiving a notice from

www.moroccoworldnews.com

 

[KKF 2.0]

I will never truly understand the conflict between the two nations.

 

[Chakib larbi]

I will never truly understand the conflict between the two nations.

The Moroccan-Algerian conflict revolves around three historical points :

The first point - is about betrayal of the Moors people to the Numidian kingdom during the Roman Numidian war of 105 BC also known as Jugurthine War .....And handing over the the western regions of Numidia to the Moorish kingdom as a reward for their betrayal

The second point is the long conflict between Ottoman Algeria and the Moroccan dynasties over the lands located in western Algeria ... and the Moroccan ambition to annex these lands

The third one concerns the war of the sands in 1963 right after the independence of Algeria and the efforts of Morocco to annex the Algerian provinces of Tindouf and Bashar to its territory.


These three events are well anchored in Algerian popular memory and constitute a fundamental pillar in the formulation of the relationship between Morocco and Algeria.

 

[GoatsMilk]

The Moroccan-Algerian conflict revolves around three historical points :

The first point - is about betrayal of the Moors people to the Numidian kingdom during the Roman Numidian war of 105 BC also known as Jugurthine War .....And handing over the the western regions of Numidia to the Moorish kingdom as a reward for their betrayal

The second point is the long conflict between Ottoman Algeria and the Moroccan dynasties over the lands located in western Algeria ... and the Moroccan ambition to annex these lands

The third one concerns the war of the sands in 1963 right after the independence of Algeria and the efforts of Morocco to annex the Algerian provinces of Tindouf and Bashar to its territory.


These three events are well anchored in Algerian popular memory and constitute a fundamental pillar in the formulation of the relationship between Morocco and Algeria.

What is the Moroccan argument against Algeria?

 

[TR_123456]

The Moroccan-Algerian conflict revolves around three historical points :

The first point - is about betrayal of the Moors people to the Numidian kingdom during the Roman Numidian war of 105 BC also known as Jugurthine War .....And handing over the the western regions of Numidia to the Moorish kingdom as a reward for their betrayal

The second point is the long conflict between Ottoman Algeria and the Moroccan dynasties over the lands located in western Algeria ... and the Moroccan ambition to annex these lands

The third one concerns the war of the sands in 1963 right after the independence of Algeria and the efforts of Morocco to annex the Algerian provinces of Tindouf and Bashar to its territory.


These three events are well anchored in Algerian popular memory and constitute a fundamental pillar in the formulation of the relationship between Morocco and Algeria.

What do you think will happen?

 

[Ghost soldier]

What do you think will happen?

Everything is possible but I think it will be like guerguarat scenario where things escalates and response will be given but i think Algeria does this deliberately cuz of hirak protests plus of setbacks in Sahara question

 

[TR_123456]

Everything is possible but I think it will be like guerguarat scenario where things escalates and response will be given but i think Algeria does this deliberately cuz of hirak protests plus of setbacks in Sahara question

So you think a small war is possible?

 

[Ghost soldier]

First comment by Moroccan authorities
The statement recognizes the existence of the problem and affirms that the measures taken by the Algerian authorities are temporary and cyclical. He concludes that the local authorities are studying the file and developing formulas likely to resolve the problems arising from this situation, considering all the options.

Here is the text of the press release:

"On Tuesday March 16, 2021, the governor of the Figuig region held a meeting with farmers of agricultural land located in the area called" Al-Arja "in the presence of the land representative of the soulalyia community" Oulad Slimane "and members of the council of this community.

"This meeting was devoted to studying the situation of agricultural land located north of Oued AL Arja, on the Moroccan-Algerian border, after the temporary and cyclical decision taken by the Algerian authorities and prohibiting access to this area from the 18th March current.

"In his intervention, the governor of the province of Figuig indicated that this meeting was devoted to examine the possible solutions to mitigate the repercussions of the above-mentioned decision on the operators of these agricultural lands, stressing that the provincial authority, in coordination and Ongoing consultation with the representative bodies of the Soulaliya community and the operators of these agricultural lands, and the operators of agricultural lands concerned by the decision of the Algerian authorities, remains mobilized to study and develop solutions that take into account all the options.

"This meeting is part of a series of meetings organized by the provincial and local authorities of the region of Figuig with representatives of Oulad Slimane and the farmers of agricultural lands located in the region" Arja ".

Figuig: Premier communiqué officiel sur la situation à El Arja - Médias24

Les autorités sont sorties de leur silence à propos de la situation qui sévit dans la zone frontalière maroco-algérienne, à proximité de Figuig. La province de Figuig a publié un communiqué à ce sujet, ce mardi 16 mars en fin de journée.

www.medias24.com

 

[Ghost soldier]

So you think a small war is possible?

Time will tell but I don't think we will fall for this trap that will give Algerian govt a morale booster for covering its setbacks

 

[KKF 2.0]

First comment by Moroccan authorities
The statement recognizes the existence of the problem and affirms that the measures taken by the Algerian authorities are temporary and cyclical. He concludes that the local authorities are studying the file and developing formulas likely to resolve the problems arising from this situation, considering all the options.

Here is the text of the press release:

"On Tuesday March 16, 2021, the governor of the Figuig region held a meeting with farmers of agricultural land located in the area called" Al-Arja "in the presence of the land representative of the soulalyia community" Oulad Slimane "and members of the council of this community.

"This meeting was devoted to studying the situation of agricultural land located north of Oued AL Arja, on the Moroccan-Algerian border, after the temporary and cyclical decision taken by the Algerian authorities and prohibiting access to this area from the 18th March current.

"In his intervention, the governor of the province of Figuig indicated that this meeting was devoted to examine the possible solutions to mitigate the repercussions of the above-mentioned decision on the operators of these agricultural lands, stressing that the provincial authority, in coordination and Ongoing consultation with the representative bodies of the Soulaliya community and the operators of these agricultural lands, and the operaors of agricultural lands concerned by the decision of the Algerian authorities, remains mobilized to study and develop solutions that take into account all the options.

"This meeting is part of a series of meetings organized by the provincial and local authorities of the region of Figuig with representatives of Oulad Slimane and the farmers of agricultural lands located in the region" Arja ".

Figuig: Premier communiqué officiel sur la situation à El Arja - Médias24

Les autorités sont sorties de leur silence à propos de la situation qui sévit dans la zone frontalière maroco-algérienne, à proximité de Figuig. La province de Figuig a publié un communiqué à ce sujet, ce mardi 16 mars en fin de journée.

www.medias24.com

This sounds like Moroccan authorities are going to do nothing against Algerian actions in the region. Which country has the upper hand in terms of military and power projection?

 

[Chakib larbi]

The Algerian army will enter the Figuig area on March 18th, and Morocco will not be able to do anything ... There are large protest by the local population regarding the silence of the Moroccan authorities and their inability to prevent the Algerian army from entering the area

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1371364796952670209

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1370824073467551749

 

[Ghost soldier]

An article that explains everything
Temporary and conjunctural ", this is how the province of Figuig describes, in the first official press release from the Moroccan authorities, dated Tuesday March 16, the decision of the Algerian authorities which consists in prohibiting the farmers of Figuig from access to the "El Arja" zone, located on the Moroccan-Algerian border.

However, in the area affected by this ban, there are land sheltering 15,000 palm trees, belonging to around thirty Moroccan farmers, forced to leave the premises by the Algerian authorities before March 18, 2021.

According to the same Moroccan press release, the governor of the Figuig region met those affected by this situation in order to "examine possible solutions to mitigate the repercussions of this decision on the operators of these agricultural lands".

The latter have started, since March 14, to prepare to defend their rights and plan to organize a demonstration on the 18th of the current month, even if, at the same time, they have spent the last days moving everything they are. able to move.

Solar panels, pumps, herds ..., everything goes, even male date palm plants have been uprooted by the operators who have only 48 hours to leave the places where “Algerian soldiers have already set up their tents” , declares Boubkeur Largou, president of the OMDH (Moroccan human rights organization), considered as a reference in this file.

In the city, protest rallies follow one another while Facebook pages show a ballet of trucks moving objects, animals and plants. All the sources describe a heavy atmosphere, visible moreover on the countless videos. A heavy, sad, tragic atmosphere.



Algerian military tents set up in the area concerned



“Some of these farmers lived there. Today, they are dismantling the doors and windows to leave before March 18, ”explains an activist in Figuig.

The latter, who knows all the operators closely, describes an atmosphere of mourning in the region. According to him, some of these farmers are in depression because they are in the misunderstanding and forced to give up their livelihood and the lands which they exploit for decades and this, without any financial compensation, without any help from the authorities and "without even benefiting from sufficient listening".

In addition, the explanations obtained so far, "are only an illusion to put an end to the protests", accuses Abdelmalek Boubekri, one of the farmers concerned.

A "temporary ban which will end with the pandemic", according to the Algerian embassy cited by the Pasha
Contacted by us, Mr. Boubekri affirms that this Tuesday, March 16, the Pasha de Figuig met many aggrieved operators and sent them the explanation of the Algerian Embassy, according to which “the measure prohibiting access to El Arja is not final and will end at the same time as the pandemic ”.

According to our interlocutor, "the Pasha also informed us that the Moroccan gendarmes and soldiers will intervene and deny us access to the areas concerned in order to avoid a clash with the Algerian soldiers".

For Mr. Boubekri, it is not only a question of a loss of property but also of an inheritance, because “these lands were inherited from father to son. My father has been working there since the 1960s and I started accompanying him there since I was 10 years old. Today I'm 71 and I can't start from scratch, "he says with emotion.

What exactly is happening in the “El Arja” area? Why are these farmers forced to leave their properties? Is this Moroccan or Algerian territory? Who should compensate these operators? Here are insights from notables in the region, human rights experts and historians.

"Within a month, these people went from hope to despondency"
It all started almost a month ago, when the Algerian authorities ordered Moroccan farmers to leave the land within 3 days which was extended to a month after negotiations.

Surprised, the thirty farmers went to the Moroccan authorities (pasha and governor) to ask for explanations, but the latter seemed, a priori, not to be aware of the case.

“At first, they said they ignored the situation, then the media denied everything and called any evacuation demand a rumor, but then everything turned out to be real,” the activist told Figuig, contacted by Médias24.

“These people have gone from hope to despondency. Overnight, they are told to leave everything and that this is Algerian land not Moroccan. It is quite normal to find them depressed and bereaved today, ”he continues.

Is this really Algerian territory?

Review of bilateral agreements
Joined by Médias24, human rights activist Boubkeur Largou and historian Mostafa Bouaziz take us back to 1901, when an agreement was signed between French Algeria and the Shereefian Kingdom.

"According to this agreement, the Figuiguis and the Amour tribes have the right to exploit these lands, because almost all the palm trees of the Figuiguis were in Algeria", explains Mr. Largou.

This is what Mr. Bouaziz confirms. According to him, "the 1901 agreement with France allowed these populations to go and exploit their lands without any hindrance".

Moreover, as Mr. Largou specifies, "this convention was recalled in the agreement of 1972 relating to the delimitation of the state border established between the Kingdom of Morocco and Algeria". But “it is the ambiguous application of this text that partly explains the current situation,” said Bouaziz.

According to him, “in international law, when there are ridges and heights at the border of a country, the heights form the border. The idea is not to give one country the advantage over another in the event of conflict, because whoever holds the heights wins the war. When there are neither ridges nor heights, it is the rivers that form the border. In this case, it turns out that in addition to the heights, there is a stream that passes into Moroccan territory, crosses the border and goes to Algeria.

“In 1972, the Algerian regime drew the border on the river by grabbing the heights. But the people who have their land on both sides of the river have not been informed. Now they are paying the price for a long-lasting border dispute.

“The Algerian regime says this is its territory according to the 1972 treaty, but for the people it is their property. They have adulary acts to prove it and according to international law, sovereignty does not alienate private property ”.

In other words, “if the Algerian regime considers that these people must go out, it must therefore compensate the owners”.

Mr. Largou followed the same reasoning. For him, "we must distinguish between state sovereignty and private property, since to expropriate a person, he must be compensated".

But the historical aspect is not the only explanation behind the current situation of El Arja. For Mostafa Bouaziz, this issue also has a cyclical aspect.

"This is outright provocation"
“The Algerian regime is in a difficult situation. The country is trying to provoke a conflict with the Moroccan state in order to drain internal anger towards the external conflict ”, accuses Mr. Bouaziz.

An explanation on which all our interlocutors agree.

Indeed, according to the activist in Figuig, “Algeria is trying to distract the hirak from external conflicts. It’s 100% political. This is an outright provocation. And if Morocco does not intervene, it is understandable but at the same time unfortunate for the farmers and for the Kingdom which is losing its territory part by part. However, historically, the whole region is Moroccan ”.

If the activist speaks of a loss of territory “part by part” it is because the current case is not a first.

“This has happened before at the ksar of Ouled Zenaga. Thousands of palm trees were taken from them in 1972. At the time, a small dam was built to water the palm trees, but it was destroyed because the palm trees and the gardens were taken by Algeria ”, adds t -he.

Reaction of residents: protests and legal battle in sight
A few days before the expiry of the deadline, the victims ordered to evacuate their properties decided to organize themselves to defend their rights.

To do this, commissions will be created to react on the legal level but also financial and moral.

In this sense, a legal commission will be responsible for analyzing international agreements in order to determine which international institution to go to to bring the grievances of these farmers. Another so-called "support" commission will aim to provide financial and moral support to injured persons.

For his part, Mr. Largou believes that urgent intervention must be made to compensate these operators. "We have to give them land next to Figuig and compensate them because they have lost a lot of money."

“An inventory will be made by the OMDH, which will draw up a memorandum on this subject. More than 10 years ago, we had already made a plea for these lands with associations. We sent it to Parliament and the political parties but there was no follow-up, ”he adds.

As for Mr. Bouaziz, he concludes that "the lasting and equitable solution lies in the construction of the Maghreb and the positive integration of the economies of the region".

Figuig : voici les causes historiques et récentes de l'expulsion des fermiers - Médias24

Dans quelques heures, 30 fermiers marocains désemparés devront abandonner leurs terres à El Arja, à la demande des autorités algériennes. De 1901 à mars 2021, voici le récit de "l'affaire de Figuig" racontée par des experts.

www.medias24.com

 

[Ghost soldier]

This sounds like Moroccan authorities are going to do nothing against Algerian actions in the region. Which country has the upper hand in terms of military and power projection?

Honestly i think it's only the beginning and patience has limits so i think that it will lead to a guerguarat 2.0 but only time will tell will this lead to war

 

[Costin84]

The Moroccan-Algerian conflict revolves around three historical points :

The first point - is about betrayal of the Moors people to the Numidian kingdom during the Roman Numidian war of 105 BC also known as Jugurthine War .....And handing over the the western regions of Numidia to the Moorish kingdom as a reward for their betrayal

This has to be a joke.....Algerians are upset with Morrocans over what 2 ancient kingdoms did over 2100 years ago? LMAO

"Remenber that time you sold us to the Romans? And I'm not talking about today's citizens of Rome but the past guys with the lorica segmentata and the testudo formation. Never forget! " lol

 

[Chakib larbi]

This has to be a joke.....Algerians are upset with Morrocans over what 2 ancient kingdoms did over 2100 years ago? LMAO

"Remenber that time you sold us to the Romans? And I'm not talking about today's citizens of Rome but the past guys with the lorica segmentata and the testudo formation. Never forget! " lol

When we read our history, we read that Morocco is our historical enemy from the era of the Romans to the era of the Turks and to this day ... If you were Algerian or even Moroccan, u will be able to understand .

 

[Costin84]

When we read our history, we read that Morocco is our historical enemy from the era of the Romans to the era of the Turks and to this day ... If you were Algerian or even Moroccan, u will be able to understand .

This is a very toxic way into indoctrinating your population against an outside group.

 

[Philip the Arab]

The conflict seems really stupid.

 

[Ryder]

Honestly I hope they work on reconciliation.

Algeria and Morocco need to be best buddies rather than fighting each other. I know both have historical greivances and territorial disputes but I feel like it needs to be solved if not it will get worse. Imagine if both sides start ramping up a proxy war? That will devastate the region.

 

[Ghost soldier]

The various video clips that are circulating as a Moroccan military move towards Figuig are old videos in which the voice has been modified by parties that are striving to issue a report or an official Moroccan reaction to Algeria for adopting it as a rich media material in an attempt to repeat the 1963 scenario, in order to push opinion Algerian year to forget the movement and turn their attention to the "classic enemy" - which "threatens the soil of Algeria".
According to a communiqué by the regional authorities of the Figuig region, the decision of the Algerian authorities to prevent Moroccan farmers from exploiting lands inside the Algerian territory that fall within the framework of dynastic lands owned by Moroccan families is a "temporary and temporary" decision.
However, some circles try to portray the situation as an attack on Moroccan lands and as a victory in some way, within the framework of the series of imaginary victories that have been achieved on the other side since the glorious November 13th.
We reiterate that this border problem does not affect in any way the borders of the Kingdom.

 

[Saithan]

I guess the Trump's recognition of Sahal as belonging to Morocco was bound to result in something. It resulted in Morocco fixing ties with Israel, so I don't think it would be wrong to say that the "border area" is going to be resolved.

I imagine Moroccon farmers are going to lose their land and Morocco can either go to war or accept that's the price for the Trump recognition.

In a way it should make things easier in the future, though I doubt it's in the near future.