Algerian authorities have arrested 61 Moroccan nationals suspected of involvement in an alleged sabotage plot, raising fresh security concerns amid strained relations between the two North African neighbours.
According to reports, Algeria’s General Directorate of National Security said the suspects were allegedly part of an international criminal network suspected of planning activities that could threaten national security and public order.
Authorities reportedly believe the group entered Algeria from Tunisia through mountainous and forested routes near El Kala, close to the Tunisian border, before travelling to the western city of Oran.
Among those arrested is reportedly a former member of the Moroccan military. Security officials also said Moroccan passports and sums of money in Moroccan dirhams and euros were seized during the operation.
However, details of the alleged sabotage plan, including its intended targets and the evidence linking the suspects to the alleged plot, have not been fully disclosed in the reports.
The arrests come against the backdrop of longstanding tensions between Algeria and Morocco, whose diplomatic relations have been severed since 2021.
The two countries remain divided over several regional issues, particularly the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where Algeria supports the Polisario Front, while Morocco maintains that the territory is part of its sovereign territory.
The countries’ land border has also remained closed since 1994, reflecting decades of political and diplomatic disagreements.
The latest arrests could further heighten mistrust between the neighbouring states, although it remains unclear whether the case will trigger any additional diplomatic measures.
For now, the allegations remain subject to investigation, and the suspects’ guilt has not been established through a judicial ruling.
Authorities are expected to provide further details as the investigation progresses.
