Belaouer is in Libya to unify fighters from Syria, says Tunisia spokesman

Spokesman for the Tunisian defense ministry Mokhtar Ben Nacer said terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar alias Belaouer is in Libya and works on unifying fighters who come back from Syria.

The security expert believes that Algerian forces acquired experience in countering terrorism and dismantled almost all the recruitment networks.

“Al-Qaeda in the region is living its last days due to financial problems. Now, it asks new recruits from Tunisia and Libya to pay expenses,” he told Echorouk.

“The good coordination between Algeria and Tunisia in countering terrorism enabled to dismantle about 30 smuggling networks in Tunisia,” he added.

He also said Belmokhtar recruited fighters who came back from Syria as they are well trained in using arms. “He tries to have control on jihadist organizations in North Africa.”

He believes that terrorist organizations can not get closer to Algerian borders because national forces have control on the borders area with Libya. In Tunisia, revolutionaries announced that they will protect borders in coordination with Tunisian authorities and the Libyan government.