Chief of the Algerian Touaregs Ahmad Idabar to Echorouk: “Touaregs are not terrorists. They are good people”

Chief of the Touaregs in Tamenrasset (South of Algeria), Ahmad Idabar, said their region suffers drought and lack of agricultural activity, and the project of delivering water on the length of 700 miles is very important to revive life.

Ahmed Idabar asserted that this project, the first of the kind in Algeria, will help inhabitants in Tamenrasset to produce many agricultural goods, especially grains, dates, vegetables and fruits.

In this interview with Echorouk newspaper, Ahmed Idabar spoke about economy, politics, security and history of the Touareg tribes in Tamerasset (South of Algeria).

Echorouk: Where do Touaregs live?

Idabar: The Touareg tribes live where desert regions like in Mali, Niger (North), Libya and Algeria (South).

Echorouk: What is the nature of relationships the Tourag tribes share in these countries?

Idabar: In the past there were no visas which limit movements of the Touaregs in these regions. We used to exchange goods using barter, such as exchanging maize in the colonial times for traditional industries like jewelry. However, today we do not need any goods neither from Niger nor from Mali because all we need comes from Algeria, particularly from Setif, Msila and Medea, including frozen fish, fruits and vegetables, but we take care of our cattle in Mali and Niger due to drought in Tamenrasset, in particular in the last four years.

Echorouk: do Algerian farmers have visas to enter other countries or is there any convention between the three countires to organize such matter?

Idabar: In fact, Algerian Touaregs enter to Mali and Niger without visas or international convention. We do not ask for a visa to use Malian and Nigerian territories since long time ago.

Echorouk: President Bouteflika spoke once about the wish of the late president Houari Boumediene to put an end to the uncontrolled movement on the borders. What can you say about this?

Idabar: Things are still the same and we hope they will remain the same in order to avoid disturbing our style of life we used since years ago.

Echorouk: In light of drought which hit the areas by the Algerian Touaregs. What are your other activities?

Idabar: Unfortunately, we have no farming activity for life, and all we plant does not rise due to the lack of water, even palms are absent in Tamenrasset. This problem is expected to be solved in 2011 thanks to the project of delivering water from Ain Saleh to Tamenrasset at a distance of 700 km, and then we can talk about farming in Tamenrasset, where we tried to plant cereals, potatoes and even orange and several types of vegetables and fruits, and we got positive results. After solving the problem of water we can achieve our objective in getting a lot of food, but now the only economic activity of the Touaregs is grazing, traditional industries and tourism.

Echorouk: Is there oil and gas in Touareg areas?

Idabar: In Tamenrasset there is no oil and gas, only if we exclude Ain Salah northern where there are gas fields. In Illizi and Ain Aminas there are gas and oil fields, as well as gold and uranium mines. Ahagar is a rich region.

Echorouk: after the crisis of kidnapping German tourists years ago, is the Ahagar region still attracting European tourists?

Idabar: Since the Gulf War in 1991, and the American war attacks on Iraq, tourism is significantly reduced in Tamenraset and things become difficult after the security crisis which hit Algeria a year later. Thus, terrorist groups resort to kidnapping foreign tourists and this makes people afraid of visiting our region. Even Touaregs become afraid on the lives those tourists, because they are responsible for their security and they resort to coordination with the security services in order to allow tourists to visit various regions in the Ahagar peacefully. Foreign tourists are not allowed to move individually. They have to travel under the framework of tourist agencies.

Echorouk: What are the last kidnappings in the region?

Idabar: There have been no kidnappings in Tamenrasset (South of Algeria), and even the German tourists were kidnapped in Illizi and not here, but the process of release took place in Tamenrasset. The German tourists commit a mistake because they traveled alone without asking help of Algerian tourist agencies.

Echorouk: Some people think that foreign tourists are implicated in theft of Algerian antiquities that are sold in auctions via internet. Are the Touaregs aware of the importance of protecting monuments and antiquities from theft?

Idabar: In the past, people did not know the value of these natural antiques, so they did not care about it when tourists uprooted the rose of sand and natural forms, but now they know that it is illegal and they prevent tourists from doing this, on the grounds that the Ahagar is the world largest natural museum that was classified by UNESCO as a historical region where graphics from pre history.

Echorouk: Are there hotels and tourist residences that can accommodate thousands of Algerian and foreign tourists?

Idabar: There are good hotels in Tamenrasset, including a new hotel which opened its doors recently, but most places of reception are tourist camps that commensurate with the nature of the area and the desire of tourists who prefer exploration and adventure, as well as all what is new and strange.