Algeria deals cautiously with immigration issue: minister says

Algerian Communication Minister, Abderachid Boukerzaza Tuesday declared that the government insists on a fair treatment of the illegal immigrants who crossed the southern borders of the country coming from Mali and Niger, according to human rights principles.

• He added that the expatriation operations obey to a battery of measures both complex and intertwined led by a prior consent of the immigrant.
• Taking the floor before journalists during his weekly presser, the minister declared that the government must comply to the human rights charter when dealing with illegal immigrants for several reasons, mentioning that all the measures undertaking by the government will not be efficient without a genuine cooperation between the neighboring countries.
• M Bokerzaza reiterated the government’s diplomatic roles in resolving crisis in the neighboring countries including Mali and Niger saying that Algeria staunchly believes that crisis should be contained on the borders not inside the zones of conflict.
• In this respect, the minister revealed that the number of illegal immigrants reached 12291 in the town of  Tamanrasset, relying on figures given by the governor. He added that this number shows a net increase in comparison with the last year’s figures which recorded some 12000 illegal immigrants.