From: Magharebia
By Nazim Fethi in Algiers
Algeria is preparing for worst-case scenarios, due to the deterioration of conditions in the Sahel.
Mounting concerns over border security led Algeria to toughen its stance towards illegal immigrants.
But more than just refugees try to cross borders in times of conflict, an officer from the Border Guard Group (GGF) tells Magharebia.
“Smugglers follow the same routes, and terrorist groups that thrive in these huge areas also benefit,” says the officer, who asks to be identified only by his initials, S.L.
“So the Algerian government has made a choice between humanitarian considerations and security considerations,” the border guard adds.
The first convoy of 300 Nigerien illegal immigrants sent out of Algeria, mostly children and women, arrived Tuesday night (December 10th) in Arlit, AFP reported.
In total, some 3,000 migrants “unemployed and who unfortunately live by begging”, should be repatriated from Algeria, Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said a fortnight ago.
The migrant issue is part of Algeria’s broad-reaching security strategy. Over the past few months, not a day has gone by without the defence ministry publishing news of arrests of illegal migrants, smugglers and even terrorists in border regions.
Algeria has long been aware of the link between terrorists and traffickers. Former al-Qaeda emir Mokhtar Belmokhtar (aka Laaouar) was dubbed the “Marlboro Man” for his cigarette-smuggling network across the Sahel and North Africa.
He may be running his revamped terror brigade out of Libya now, but everyone remembers that he’s an Algerian. And he got his start in the desert.
