Rabat – Algeria sacked late on Tuesday Minister of Communication Mohamed Bouslimani after a number of Algerian media reports linked the expulsion of the UAE ambassador to Algiers to an alleged Emirati espionage in the North African country.
On Tuesday, Ennahar TV published a now-deleted news report claiming that Algeria had urged the UAE ambassador to Algiers to leave the country in 48 hours.
“The decision to expel the UAE ambassador came after the arrest of four Emirati spies, who were spying for Mossad,” the Algerian news outlet said.
Yet the spokesperson of Algeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry denied the reports, describing the information as “false and unfounded” and highlighting the Algerian regime’s readiness to preserve “the solidity of Algeria-UAE ties.”
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reportedly gave the instructions to sack the minister of communication following the initial reports and as the media in the country continued to highlight the news of Emirati nationals spying on Algeria on behalf of Israeli intelligence.
Bouslimani has been the minister of communication in Algeria since 2021, and the statement announcing his departure from the government provided no details regarding the reasons for his sacking.
Commenting on the news, journalist Dawood al Basri questioned Algeria’s motives for sacking the communication minister without providing any details.
“What exactly happened last night and suddenly changed events? Indeed, according to sources, a spy cell was discovered working for the Mossad, but Arab parties intervened to cover up the case because its repercussions are very huge and painful,” the journalist claimed.
