By Jean Junior Celestin, Le Nouvelliste, Mar 27, 2026
The government has just taken a new step in its security reinforcement strategy by declaring several properties located in the commune of Tabarre, in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy of the United States of America, to be of public utility. The decision, formalized in an order published in Le Moniteur (special issue of March 24, 2026), concerns an area of 1,289.24 square meters located along the western lateral façade of the space housing the American diplomatic mission.
Relying on the provisions of the amended 1987 Constitution, as well as on the laws governing expropriation for public utility, the State justifies this measure by the need to equip the area with modern security infrastructure.
“Are hereby declared of public utility, in the commune of Tabarre, properties, land, and buildings located on the western lateral façade of the space housing the Embassy of the United States of America, with an area of one thousand two hundred eighty-nine square meters and twenty-four square decimeters (1,289 m² 24 dm²),” states Article 1 of the order.
The perimeter declared of public utility in the commune of Tabarre is defined by geographic coordinates marking four main points. Point A is located at 72°14’36.29’’ West and 18°34’04.98’’ North, while point B is situated at 72°14’37.27’’ West and 18°34’15.75’’ North. Point C is identified around 72°14’52’’ West and 18°34’16.12’’ North, and point D at 72°14’35.22’’ West and 18°34’05.12’’ North.
“These properties must be used for the construction of infrastructure intended to strengthen the security apparatus in this area,” specifies Article 1.
According to the order, from the moment the text is published, a series of protective measures comes into force. “From the publication of this order, all construction work, road cutting, land subdivision or any other land exploitation, as well as any transaction or transfer of property, are and shall remain prohibited throughout the area defined in Article 1,” prohibits Article 2.
The order also provides for the immediate activation of the Permanent Committee for Amicable Acquisition, tasked with conducting the evaluation and compensation procedures for affected property owners. “For the entire area concerned under this order, the expropriation of owners holding legal titles justifying their legitimate right of occupation, or the recovery of properties leased by the State or unlawfully occupied, shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Laws of September 5, 1979 on Expropriation for Public Utility and of July 28, 1927 amending the Law of January 29, 1926 on the recovery of properties leased or unlawfully occupied by private individuals,” states Article 3.
“The Permanent Committee for Amicable Acquisition provided for under the Law of September 5, 1979 on Expropriation for Public Utility is immediately activated for the purpose of collecting the necessary information and assessments to ensure fair and equitable compensation, in strict respect of the rights of all occupants,” the order further specifies.
In this regard, landowners and leaseholders have a period of fifteen days from the publication of the text to submit their property titles or any documents attesting to their rights of occupation, according to Article 5. “Within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of publication of this order, landowners and leaseholders within the aforementioned area must submit, for appropriate follow-up, at the premises of the General Directorate of Taxes, located at No. 93, Tabarre 27, their property titles and all documents justifying their rights of occupation.”
“This order shall be published and executed at the diligence of the Ministers of the Interior and Territorial Communities, Justice and Public Security, Economy and Finance, and Public Works, Transport and Communications, each insofar as they are concerned,” reads the final article of the order, a copy of which was obtained by the newspaper.
Posted May 11, 2026