The Stolen Lands of Morocco – A Historical Foundation –

Between history and politics, between memory and geography, this book takes the reader on a unique intellectual journey to uncover the roots of the conflict between Morocco and Algeria. Through a meticulous reading of the events that have shaped the region for centuries, the author skillfully reveals the hidden threads of colonial history, border division, and its far-reaching consequences. Drawing on rare sources and both Arab and Western documents, he employs a critical and comparative approach to challenge and correct many inaccuracies established in foreign writings and certain local narratives. Across its chapters, the book traces the historical origins of the Algerian state, first as an Ottoman regency (Eyalet) and later as a French colony that gradually expanded over neighboring territories. It exposes the mechanisms of colonial border partitioning and examines its social, political, and cultural repercussions on the present and future of both nations. The author also offers a deep critical perspective on the role of French colonialism in creating artificial borders, showing how this process reshaped geography and politics to serve imperial interests while sowing the seeds of enduring tension. In its analytical section, the work explores the symbolic and sovereign dimension of the Moroccan monarchy, illustrating how it has become the cornerstone in defending Morocco's identity and territorial unity, in contrast with the ideological constructs of the Algerian regime. This is not merely a historical account but a profound analysis of Maghreb relations, bridging the human and the political dimensions, linking the past with the present to open new paths of understanding and dialogue about the future of coexistence between the two nations. An essential book for researchers, historians of the Maghreb, and for every reader seeking truth beyond the walls built by politics and concealed by history.