Algeria says illegal migrants threaten national security
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, July 11, 2017
ALGIERS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Algeria said illegal migrants are threatening its homeland security and urgent measures must be taken to control situation, Algerian foreign minister said here on Monday.
"Organized crime networks, in which some Algerians are members, are behind this massive flow of illegal migrants to Algeria," Abdelkader Messahel said.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of an international conference on the role of national reconciliation and moderation in the fight against terrorism held in Algiers.
Messahel further assumed the existence of links between human trafficking networks with terrorist groups and organized crime.
Algeria has become a destination country for illegal sub-Saharan migrants, he said, stressing the importance of defending national sovereignty and security.
Illegal migrants are the source of drug trafficking and organized crime, said Ahmed Ouyahia, Secretary General of the National Democratic Rally, the second ruling party, as human rights NGOs, including Amnesty, in addition to several Algerian political parties, dabbed these remarks as "racist."
Messahel supported Ouyahia as he replied that "the Algerian laws prohibit illegal migration."
Official figures suggest that as many as 20 million Africans move illegally across the continent to search for better living conditions and flee armed conflicts, as they fail to reach Europe. Enditem
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)