Overwhelming flow of Moroccans to Libya through Algeria: Messahel receives Moroccan ambassador

ALGIERS- The minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and the Arab League, Abdelkader Messahel received Saturday, in Algiers, the Moroccan ambassador to Algiers, to bring to his attention, the “overwhelming” and “unusual” flow of Moroccans to Libya, through Algeria, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communiqué.

“The issue of the overwhelming and unusual flow of Moroccan nationals coming from Casablanca to Libya, through Algeria, noted over the past weeks, was brought to the attention of the Moroccan ambassador,” said the communiqué.

In this regard, the minister underlined that “the particularly sensitive current security context requires the utmost vigilance,” adding that this context “requires the strengthening of cooperation between the countries of the sub-region, such as the one between Algeria and Tunisia in matters of, notably, the repatriation of their nationals.”

Messahel informed the ambassador of “the decision of the Algerian authorities to allow, for this time, and exceptionally, the transit of Moroccan nationals, currently in Algiers, holding documents of work or residence in Libya. The travelers who do not have documents supporting their trip to Libya will be subject to repatriation to their country of origin.”

Algeria “will provide means of transport to ensure the return to Morocco of these nationals who received treatment proper to the hospitality values of the Algerian people,” concluded the communiqué.