Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – The UK and Australia joined a series of countries that warned their citizens of any potential visit to Algeria, especially the Tindouf camps– alerting them about terrorism and kidnapping risks.
The UK updated its foreign travel advisory website for Algeria, recalling the United States security alert warning of “increased risk of kidnapping” of Western nationals in Tindouf camps.
“Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Algeria, including kidnappings. On 15 February the US Embassy issued a security alert warning of increased risk of kidnap of Western nationals in the Tindouf region ahead of the Sahara Marathon of 28 February,” the UK travel advisory notice said.
The Australian government made a similar alert, calling on its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution in Algeria overall” due to the “threat of terrorism and kidnapping.
It further called on Austalias to avoid traveling to remote areas and to monitor the news and other sources for information about threats.
“The risk of kidnapping is high in some parts of Algeria. If you travel to these areas, seek professional security advice and have effective personal security measures in place,” the website added.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry and the US have issued similar alerts, advising their citizens to avoid traveling to the North African country, including the Tindouf camps.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry warned against a “terrorist threat against Spanish citizens in the area of the Sahrawi camps” due to “increased instability in northern Mali and resulting heightened activity by terrorist groups in the region.”
The advisory recommends that Spanish citizens avoid travel to the camps and leave if already there. This comes as the Polisario Front separatist group and Algeria are preparing for a marathon event in the camps.
The US Embassy released a similar security alert noting an “increased risk of kidnapping Westerners” and urging Americans to avoid the Tindouf area until at least March 15.
Angered by the advisory alerts, the Polisario Front described the issuance of such recommendations as “reproachable” and “ill-timed.”
Several observers and security experts have warned about the threats in the Tindouf camps.
Last year, Moroccan petitioner Mohammed Elaissaoui joined a chorus of exports in warning against the security threats in Tindouf, where Algeria hosts the Polisario Front.
The UN petitioner made his remarks at the Committee of the 24th annual meeting last year, recalling the growing concerns shared by the international community on the situation in Tindouf.
Many politicians, including MEPs and American congresspeople, have in the past warned that the Tindouf camps have become “fertile ground” for the recruitment of terrorist groups, he said.
