Recently, several Algerian wilayas launched the official application of law n°23-18 published in Algeria on November 28, 2023, to protect and preserve the public domain.
This measure, which concerns various wilayas in Algeria, notably Algiers, Chlef, Béjaïa, Oran, and M’Sila, mobilized the authorities to restore the prestige of the State and curb the theft of its lands, by resorting to police services. urban, officers and judicial police agents affiliated with the Forestry Department, as well as inspectors from different ministries.
The promulgation of Law No. 23-18 by the President of the Republic, following the opinion of the Council of State and the approval of Parliament, was precipitated by the increase in attacks against public lands, where individuals and legal entities appropriated state property. These attacks were facilitated by legal loopholes, arousing the appetite of usurpers and encouraging the actions of the real estate “mafia”.
Recently, many buildings and facilities constructed without permits have been demolished. Extensions made by the owners of businesses, cafes, and restaurants on sidewalks and public squares have been repressed, with confiscation of equipment and machines. The case attracted the attention of the country’s highest authorities, leading to the transfer of protection tasks to various agencies, including ministers, governors, and presidents of municipal councils.
The process of recovering seized lands now involves multiple state entities, with intensified monitoring operations by trained agents and field visits conducted by governors and mayors, per the law. The latter also provides for using judicial authorities to protect land, with prosecutions initiated by the Minister of Finance, governors, and mayors as representatives of the state and local communities.
The provisions of the law are clear and explicit, encouraging all stakeholders to assume their responsibilities. The move prompted authorities to act quickly to avoid harsh sanctions, including jail time and loss of office.
