Algerian authorities arrest Moroccan nationals

The Algerian National Security Directorate (DGSN) announced on Sunday, October 11, the arrest of 61 Moroccan nationals earlier in the month. The individuals were accused of planning "acts of sabotage that would harm security and public order," according to the Algerian news website TSA, which cited the DGSN's statement.

Details of the arrests and transit routes

The arrested individuals were described as "extremely dangerous" and reportedly traveled through Tunisia before illegally entering Algeria. They used "steep mountain trails and isolated forest passages" in El Kala, a region in El Tarf province near the Tunisian border, before moving by land to Oran.

Visual evidence and lack of specifics

On the public channel Canal Algérie, images shown alongside the DGSN statement depicted the arrested individuals from behind, handcuffed, and included close-ups of passports and other identification documents seized by Algerian police. However, the authorities did not provide details about the nature of the planned actions or their intended targets.

Moroccan media skepticism

Many Moroccan media outlets have cast doubt on the Algerian authorities' claims. For example, the Moroccan newspaper Assabah mocked the high number of "agents" arrested, suggesting the operation resembled a "group tourist trip" rather than a serious security threat.

Alternative explanations and timing of arrests

The Moroccan website Maroc diplomatique pointed out inconsistencies in the Algerian narrative, while an unofficial source from Jeune Afrique suggested the arrested individuals might have been immigrants seeking to reach Europe. Le360 noted the timing of the arrests, linking them to the anticipated adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution on Western Sahara in late October.

Diplomatic tensions and visa policy

In October 2024, three years after the official end of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the reinstatement of visa requirements for Moroccan nationals, citing "security reasons." This followed claims that Israeli spies with Moroccan passports had infiltrated Algeria, according to the London newspaper Al-Quds.