A little over a month and a half after Algeria's initial intervention in Ksar Ich, in the province of Figuig, soldiers from the eastern neighbor are active in the area and are asserting their sovereignty, leaving the local residents in a difficult situation. At the end of March, the Algerian army was deployed on the only provincial road leading to the border oasis. Illustrative photo / DR. ‹ › The initial intervention by the Algerian army in Ksar Ich on February 4, 2026, was not an isolated incident. After unilaterally installing border markers in the oasis area and preventing Moroccan farmers from accessing their land, Algerian soldiers carried out further incursions. At the end of March, they attempted to block residents from reaching the village via the provincial road. Locals now fear a repeat of the El Arja scenario of March 2021. Residents «have even more reason to be seriously concerned, as this road is the only access route to the northeastern area where Ksar Ich is located within the province, pointing to an uncertain future», Taoufik Allal, a member of the Ksar Ich Events Monitoring Committee, told Yabiladi. Following these developments, «the Moroccan contingent in the area has been reinforced, with troops setting up camp, after which traffic was restored», Allal added, describing the Algerian actions as «attempts to intimidate the population». The 1972 treaty resurfaces According to Allal, «the Algerian side justifies its actions by referring to the implementation of border demarcation under the 1972 bilateral agreement». «They rely on their interpretation of the text to claim that this provincial road falls within their territory rather than Morocco's, hence this new intervention», said the researcher and community activist, who is originally from Ksar Ich. While «dialogue between residents and Moroccan provincial authorities remains ongoing», Allal stressed that «at this stage, the capacity of local authorities in a border area remains limited». According to him, «this is a matter of sovereignty that goes beyond territorial considerations». «It is a highly sensitive national issue, and any decisions or actions must be taken at a higher level», he said. For now, he remains skeptical about the feasibility of alternative access routes. «The geography of the area is complex. It is difficult to imagine establishing another provincial road connecting Ksar Ich to the rest of the region. Given the terrain, such a project would take considerable time and would not be a practical solution», he explained. «We trust in the wisdom of our national authorities and the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). What we can say at this stage is that the local population remains deeply attached to its land, has no intention of giving it up, and hopes for a peaceful and favorable outcome.» Diaspora mobilization grows The Ksar Ich Situation Monitoring Committee held a meeting last week bringing together numerous residents and community activists, including members of the diaspora from the region. Among them, Mohamed Talha told Yabiladi that «locals are experiencing unprecedented distress». He further claimed that «Algerian soldiers along the border have previously carried out summary executions and arrests, and have falsely accused our compatriots of trafficking in order to mistreat them». According to the Paris-based activist, «the situation is extremely dangerous and threatens the safety of residents». «After the land seizures came isolation via the regional road, which represents a dangerous escalation. Moroccan authorities must take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens at this crossing point», he added. On the issue of compensation for affected residents, Talha noted that «before considering a new road or even the restitution of seized land, locals are first calling for the right to use previously expropriated land classified under the forest domain, at least to support the resumption of economic activity, yet this proposal has so far received no response». According to the activist, «the situation requires a decisive and realistic solution». Speaking on behalf of diaspora activists from the Figuig region, particularly Ksar Ich, he said they are «calling above all for moral support for the residents». Article modifié le 01/04/2026 à 12h14
