Algeria Accuses Morocco of Sabotaging Major Iron Mine Project in Tindouf

"Since we launched the exploitation of the Gara Djebilet mine, we have constantly received blows from everywhere to ensure that this project never sees the light of day," said Saïd Ben Kamou, without however specifying the origin of the blows. He did, however, claim to have "formal evidence" of the existence of "parties and plans" aimed at "undermining all the policies and major projects that can raise the country to the rank of developed countries."

Is Morocco behind these blows? A cooperation agreement had been signed between Morocco and Algeria on June 15, 1972 in Rabat for the development of the Gara-Djebilet mine. But according to a former ambassador, Morocco has no rights over the deposit, as the agreement has lapsed for both legal and political reasons. According to the explanations of some observers, "the blockages that the Gara Djebilet project could face would not come from possible claims by Rabat on this ’golden’ iron deposit, but rather from other internal or external origins, given the colossal stakes it raises in terms of access to raw materials in the region and the foreign exchange earnings that can be derived from it."

To recall, the Gara Djebilet deposit is considered one of the largest iron mines in the world, with estimated reserves of more than 3 billion tons, of which 1.7 billion tons are exploitable.