Death of Algerian Consular diplomat in Lyon (France) in murky circumstances

Algerian diplomat, Mohand-Amokrane Benmokhtar, based in Lyon (France), has died, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Abdelaziz Benali-Cherif, said in a statement made to local media outlets in Algiers.

“The Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the death of Benmokhtar Mohand-Amokrane, Chancery officer at Algeria’s General Consulate in the French city of Lyon, stressing that the circumstances of his demise still remain to be cleared after the necessary investigation,” the same source said.

Upon receiving the sad information, the foreign Ministry’s administration dispatched a team headed by the General Inspector of the Department “to shed all the light on the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” added the spokesman.

After the announcement of the death of the Algerian diplomat, Algeria’s Ambassador to Paris, “who took immediately the legal measures provided by the law of the host country in such cases, is set to travel to Lyon to attend, with the Consul General, the lifting of the body and to bring support to the family of the deceased,” said Cherif-Benali.

On behalf of the Algerian Foreign affairs Minister, the Deputy Minister in charge of Maghrebian and African Affairs, as well as the Secretary General of the ministerial Department and all the staff of the foreign affairs Ministry, the spokesman extended his “sincere condolences” to the family of the deceased and assured them of his “compassion” and “solidarity” during this excruciating ordeal.