Algerian national police have arrested 61 Moroccan nationals on allegations of planning acts of sabotage. According to Algerian state media, the arrested individuals were deemed "extremely dangerous" and sought to threaten public security and order. The arrests were made in early October, with authorities claiming the Moroccans had entered the country illegally through Tunisia.
The Algerian police stated that the Moroccan nationals used "steep mountain trails and isolated forest passages" in the El Kala area, bordering Tunisia, to enter the country. They then traveled by land to Oran to prepare for their alleged sabotage plans. During the arrests, security officers seized Moroccan passports and considerable cash in both Moroccan dirhams and euros.
This is not the first instance of Algeria arresting Moroccans on charges of "sabotage" or other ambiguous, politically charged crimes. In July, Algerian police claimed to have arrested 23 people in Oran, including 18 Moroccan nationals, as part of an "organized criminal network" involved in irregular maritime migration.
The Algerian regime has been involved in a series of similar incidents in recent years. In May, authorities announced the arrest of 77 people, including 67 Moroccans, involved in clandestine migration schemes in the city of Oran. The regime has also killed several Moroccans accused of drug trafficking or threatening Algerian security.
Tensions between Morocco and Algeria have been escalating, with Algeria unilaterally cutting ties with Morocco in 2021. The decision was made after Algeria falsely accused Rabat of causing devastating wildfires in several Algerian provinces. The incident has contributed to a deepening crisis of shared mistrust and divergent regional ambitions between the two countries.
The Algerian regime's actions have drawn criticism, particularly after a 2023 incident where Algerian coast guards killed two Moroccan tourists and detained at least one other on loose charges of trespassing on Algerian territory. The victims were unarmed civilians on holiday who had accidentally drifted into Algerian waters due to bad weather.
The current situation between Morocco and Algeria remains strained, with both countries pursuing different regional ambitions. The recent arrests and allegations of sabotage have further complicated the relationship between the two nations, raising concerns about the potential for increased tensions and conflict in the region.
Key points
- Algerian police claim to have arrested 61 Moroccan nationals for planning acts of sabotage.
- The arrests are part of a series of accusations and arrests made by the Algerian regime in recent years.
- The incident has contributed to the escalating tensions between Morocco and Algeria, which have been experiencing a deepening crisis of shared mistrust and divergent regional ambitions.
