ALGERIA Weekly Report

17 - 23 May 2018

Executive Summary Algeria Weekly Summary

Summary

 Between 17 and 23 May 2018, there were 60 critical incidents in Algeria, including 34 deaths, 31 of which were caused by TABLE OF CONTENTS road traffic accidents. 196 arrests were also recorded,

including those of eight Islamic insurgents, 18 drug traffickers Executive Summary 2 and 128 immigrants. This week, criminal incidents accounted for 33.33% of the total incident pool, followed by human and Significant Events 3 social crises with 31.67% and security and defense-related Political & General 4 incidents with 21.67%. Security 7  Eight al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) insurgents Economy 8 surrendered in Tamanrasset, Adrar and Jijel this week, benefitting from the general amnesty program began by Outlook 10 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the late nineties. Many Forecast of Events 2018 11 others are expected to follow suit during the holy month of About Constellis 12 Ramadan, considering their lack of support and resources in Algeria, as well as the tense military situation in the Sahel.

 On 16 May, a pro-Islamic State recruitment cell was dismantled in Mostaganem, and 12 members were apprehended. This report created concerns by security agencies as it was believed that IS operatives had fled Algeria to neighbouring countries. The cell that was apprehended was responsible for radicalizing and recruiting young insurgents, who would then move on to Libya, Tunisia or the Sahel. An investigation is underway to determine possible ties to foreign or local groups.

 In Bordj Badji Mokhtar, a weapons cache containing war-grade weapons was discovered. Rocket heads, propelling charges and detonators were seized. In Tizi Ouzou, Jijel, Bejaia and Khenchela, 16 homemade explosives were found during ongoing large-scale counter-terrorism operations.

 On 21 May, two dead bodies were found in a Sidi Bel-Abbes mosque with their throats cut. The gendarmerie has launched an investigation into the incident, which locals reported was reminiscent of civil war executions.

 In Tizi Ouzou, street merchants clashed with the police on the first day of Ramadan, though no casualties were reported. Further activity is however expected as merchants have been barred from occupying the street located in front of the downtown marketplace.

 In just four days, 1,136 road traffic accidents claimed 31 lives nationwide. During Ramadan, road accidents account for higher numbers of casualties, largely due to tiredness and speeding. This has led the authorities to take a stricter approach in regulating traffic.

Significant Events: 17 - 23 May 2018 Algeria Weekly Summary

Tizi Ouzou: 17 May 2018: Algiers: 17 May 2018: Setif: 17 May 2018: Mostaganem: 16 May Street merchants and police 7,000 policemen mo- One dead, many 2018: Terrorist cell dis- clash in Tizi Ouzou. bilized to secure capi- reported missing as mantled in Mostaga- tal during Ramadan. storm ravages Setif. nem.

Mostaganem: 16 May 2018: Distribution of Rama- dan food aid turns into a protest in Mostaganem.

Tebessa: 20-22 May Sidi Bel Abbes: 21 May 2018: Flooding affects 2018: Two bodies with Northern Algeria: 16 May 2018: Dozen Tebessa and Oum el- throats cut found in Sidi Bel of hideouts discovered and seven IEDs Bouaghi. Abbes mosque. seized in Tizi Ouzou, Jijel and Bejaia

Illizi: 19 May 2018: Three Adrar: 21 May 2018: Want- armed men arrested near ed militant surrenders in Libyan border. Adrar.

Tamanrasset: 21-22 May 2018: Five insurgents surrender in Tamanrasset on 21 and 22 May.

Political & General Algeria Weekly Summary

Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister speaks against Algeria Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita, took to Twitter to denounce the alleged role of Algeria in the Western Sahara crisis. In a series of tweets, he denounced, "A military escalation that is unfolding with the blessing and complicity of Algeria, which is violating the charter African Union by closing its borders and sheltering an armed movement that is threatening another member of the AU." Bourita added that Algeria and the Polisario remain accountable to the Nasser Bourita, Foreign Affairs Minister of Morocco, speaks against Algeria international community. Algeria on social media. (Photo: MAP) has yet to respond to the tweets, though tensions between the two UN criticizes Algeria for Parliamentarians take a countries are heightened. mass deportations of stand against absenteeism migrants sanctions and demand President Bouteflika The United Nations called on increased pay denounces political and Algeria to put an end to its During a debate on the new draft ideological activism in crackdown on undocumented rules of procedure, MPs from universities immigrants and deportations. opposition and presidential On the occasion of the 68th Hassen Kacimi, a senior official at majority parties stood against any anniversary of Student Day in Algeria's Interior Ministry, sanctions for absenteeism in Algeria, President Bouteflika responded by claiming that Algeria parliament. This came in reaction released a statement read by the called for assistance from the to the government's threat of Minister of Higher Education, international community, while the enforcing article 69, which Azzedine Mihoubi. In his message, United Nations had done little to stipulates that MPs should attend the President deplored growing protect the migrants. UN all plenary sessions or face political and ideological activism in spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani sanctions. Not only did all MPs Algerian universities. “Universities told a UN briefing in Geneva that condemn this article, but most help create the future of Algeria deportations and expulsions have demanded a pay increase and and its people. It is not a place for increased markedly since the diplomatic passports. political and ideological struggles” second half of 2017, and that a UN the statement read. The President human rights team was this month Sidi Bel Abbes Governor also rebuked all criticism of sent to Niger to investigate. causes controversy by using Algerian universities, pointing out social media to give mayor ultimatum that a number of Algerian The Governor of Sidi Bel-Abbes, graduates have achieved great Tahar Hachani, gave an ultimatum successes.

Political & General Algeria Weekly Summary

to the mayor of central Sidi Bel- Abbes, Tewfik Adda Boudjellal, via social media. This caused a backlash due to the informal nature of the directive. The Governor condemned the mayor's "laxity", and gave him 48 hours to comply with instructions to launch infrastructure projects in several areas of the city.

Islamist MP accuses PM Ouyahia of favoritism in Hajj quota distribution Lakhdar Benkhellaf, an MP with the Islamist party el-Adala, accused Street merchants clash with police in Tizi Ouzou (Photo: Liberte Algerie) Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia of favoritism toward members of his incident. No casualties were nationwide. The deadliest province party regarding the distribution of however reported. was Ain Defla, where four people quotas for the Hajj pilgrimage in died and 43 were wounded in 32 Mecca. "Ouyahia distributes the Illegal immigration: 128 Sub accidents. Tiredness and speeding quotas as if they were his -Saharan Africans and were the main causes of accidents property," stated MP Benkhellaf, Algerians arrested according to the police. who claimed that five This week, 58 would-be immigrants parliamentary groups were were arrested in Ain Temouchent Local NGOs criticize excluded from the protest. The and Oran after the coast guard and deportation of 1,500 latter urged the President of the the gendarmerie foiled four migrants parliament, Said Bouhadja, to attempts to cross the Several Algerian NGOs, human intervene and investigate the Mediterranean Sea. In Ouargla, rights activists, university students distribution process. Tlemcen, Biskra and Illizi, 70 and the civil society criticized the undocumented immigrants from government after the deportation Human & Social Sub-Saharan Africa were or 1,500 undocumented apprehended by the security immigrants from sub-Saharan Street merchants and forces, according to the Ministry of Africa. In a joint statement, the police clash in Tizi Ouzou Defense. collective asserted that since the On 17 May, street merchants beginning of 2018, a “generalized selling vegetables and fruit in Road traffic accidents: 31 and arbitrary arrest-and- downtown Tizi Ouzou skirmished dead in just four days deport campaign has been led by with the police after the The authorities have warned the authorities against authorities ordered them to vacate commuters about road safety undocumented immigrants from the area located in front of the during Ramadan. Between 17 and sub-Saharan African countries, local market. The merchants threw 21 May, the first four days of the such as Guinea, Burkina Faso, rocks at police officers, who holy month, 31 people were killed Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal retaliated using tear gas. Security and 1,304 others wounded in and Nigeria, among others, 1,500 was reinforced in the city after the 1,136 road traffic accidents of which have been deported in

Political & General Algeria Weekly Summary

the last few days.” Critics also Social housing seekers begin Online petition puts Red claimed that these operations protests in Oran and Crescent & NGOs at odds were marred by abuse and Constantine The online petition "We are all violations of international human On 21 May, social housing seekers migrants" caused animosity rights laws. staged protests in Oran and between the Algerian Red Crescent Constantine. In Oran, the (CRA) and several Algerian NGOs, Authorities to sanction protesters, who were higher including the Algerian League for corrupt social housing education workers, attempted to the Defense of Human Rights beneficiaries block traffic to denounce the (LADDH). The petition, which was The provincial authorities in Algiers suspension of a project to build begun by NGOs, human rights announced a crackdown on social 160 housing units. Police activists, journalists and the civil housing beneficiaries who resorted prevented the protest without society, accused the government to bribery and document forgery to incident. In Constantine, housing and the Red Crescent of violating obtain apartments. According to seekers left off the most recent list human rights and mistreating local sources, investigations and of beneficiaries gathered in front immigrants during "arbitrary legal action have been launched, of the central city hall and filed an deportation operations". The and at least 984 individuals have appeal after blocking the entrance. President of the CRA, Saida been identified; 280 of which have Benhabiles, condemned a "slander been given prison sentences One dead, many go missing campaign" targeting Algeria. The ranging between 18 and 24 as storm ravages Setif LADDH reacted by accusing the months. 224 others were given On 17-18 May, one person was CRA, "a supposedly independent suspended prison sentences killed and at least two others were organization," of covering up the ranging between two and six reported missing following heavy aforementioned violations. months. Fines reaching 500,000 rainfall in Setif. The authorities dinars have also been imposed on subsequently launched search and Blogger to appear before 180 other suspects. rescue operations. Several roads court after one year of were closed in the east, and traffic detention, faces life in Cevital support was completely paralyzed as prison coordination holds sit-in flooding was reported in various Blogger Merzoug Touati will protest outside Bejaia court municipalities, after the Oued Ain appear before the court of Bejaia, On 20 May, the Cevital Support el-Kebira river overflowed. 17 months after his arrest in Coordination held a sit-in protest January 2017 for "exchanging outside the court of Bejaia to Flooding hits Tebessa and intelligence with an Israeli denounce a lawsuit introduced by Oum el-Bouaghi operative". Touati faces life in the Director of the port of Bejaia In the northeastern provinces of prison, according to Amnesty against its spokesman, Mourad Tebessa and Oum el-Bouaghi, International, which claimed that Bouzidi, who was given a hundreds of houses and businesses the allegations against him were suspended prison sentence of were flooded amid heavy rainfall fabricated. The NGO added that three months. This comes after between 20 and 22 May. The most this case further harms Algeria’s thousands of protesters staged a affected areas were La Remonte, el image with regard to its human march in Bejaia to pressure the -Merdja, el-Djorf, Skanska and rights record. local port authorities into releasing Meskiana. No casualties have so over 30 shipping containers far been reported. Despite government efforts, belonging to the private industrial exam papers leaked online company Cevital. Despite efforts made by the

Political & General / Security Algeria Weekly Summary

Ministry of Education, exam papers who joined al-Qaeda between rifle and documents glorifying the have continued to be leaked. On 2015 and 2016. A PKT heavy Islamic State. On 16 May, another 23 May, secondary school entrance machine gun and four Kalashnikov terrorism supporter was arrested exam papers were leaked on machine guns were also seized. in the same province. Facebook only eight minutes after In Adrar, on 22 May, another the examination began. Education Cache containing war-grade insurgent, known as “Assid” and Minister Nouria Benghabrit denied weapons found near Mali active since 2012, also border that students were responsible, surrendered. The army seized his In Bordj Badji Mokhtar, near the and instead accused exam center machine gun and four rounds of Malian border, a cache containing workers and test proctors. ammunition. Two more Islamic seven BM-21 artillery rocket heads,

insurgents affiliated with al-Qaeda Distribution of Ramadan seven propelling charges and 49 food aid turns into a protest surrendered in Skikda on 23 May detonators was discovered by the in Mostaganem during a counter-terrorism army on 16 May. In Hassi Mameche, Mostaganem operation. The militants were province, a food aid distribution identified as Rabah Merabet, Bombs, hideouts and operation turned into a protest on otherwise known as "Chuaib" and weapons found during security operations 16 May, a day before the beginning Hocine Boukhalfa, known as Counter-terrorism operations were of Ramadan. According to local "Chorahbil". Both of them joined conducted in the provinces of Tizi sources, some 400 beneficiaries AQIM in 2002. Three Kalashnikov Ouzou, Bejaia, Jijel and Khenchela were taken off the food aid register machine guns and six rounds of this week. In Tizi Ouzou, on 22 for unknown reasons, provoking ammunition were seized. May, nine homemade explosives unrest amongst local communities. Two bodies with cut throats were discovered. Previously, on 16 Those affected by the decision found in Sidi Bel Abbes May, 12 insurgent hideouts, seven protested in front of the city hall to mosque homemade explosives and a demand access to the "much- Two dead bodies with their throats quantity of ammunition were needed aid". cut were found in a mosque found and cleared in Bejaia and Tizi

located in Ras el-Ma, Sidi Bel Abbes Security Ouzou. Furthermore, in Khenchela, province. The gendarmerie has three unlicensed hunting rifles and Eight Islamist insurgents opened an investigation into the 1,000 rounds of ammunition were surrender in Tamanrasset, killings, which locals claimed were seized by the gendarmerie on 20 Adrar and Skikda reminiscent of terrorist executions May. Algerian AQIM fighters have during the civil war. continued to surrender this week. Three armed men arrested In Tamanrasset, on 21 May, a high- IS support network near Libyan border dismantled, 12 arrested in ranking member of AQIM in the On 19 May, the Algerian army Mostaganem Sahel, known as Abu Aissa, who apprehended three armed In the province of Mostaganem, a joined AQIM in 2015, turned individuals in Djanet, Illizi terrorist network was dismantled himself in to the army. On 22 and province, near the Libyan border. A by the police and the gendarmerie 23 May, in the same province, four kalashnikov machine gun, on 22 May, after an investigation other militants surrendered. These ammunition and 900 liters of fuel which resulted in the arrest of 12 were identified as El Bekkai, were seized. individuals, including one minor. Ahmed Gharbi, Abdenasser One of the cell’s members was in Ghendir and Hocine Boukhalfa, the possession of an automatic

Security / Economy Algeria Weekly Summary

Over 7,000 policemen a 13-story building located in Bir Economy mobilized to secure the Mourad Rais, in central Algiers, by capital during Ramadan the National Social Security Fund In Algiers, over 7,000 police (CNAS) in 2016. AACC President, officers will be mobilized to make Djilali Hadjadj, accused the social the city safe during Ramadan, amid security fund of corruption, a heightened risk of terrorism, claiming that CNAS did not comply criminality and road traffic with public contract awarding accidents. Most of the policemen procedures and used illegal will be based in the central area, methods, such as overbilling, to according to the DGSN. acquire the building, which cost USD 60 million. Criminality Two Sub-Saharan Africans Bejaia port director reacts Drug trafficking: 18 suspects arrested for money to Cevital protests, refuses arrested, over one ton of counterfeiting to yield drugs seized Two men from Sub-Saharan Africa Djelloul Achour, the General 18 drug traffickers were were apprehended on 16 May in Director of the port of Bejaia, apprehended this week, including Blida for money trafficking. A reacted to recent protests calling three Moroccan nationals in significant amount of 100 dinar for the release of Cevital shipping Tlemcen, Algiers, Blida, Batna, bills were seized. containers he had decided to Mascara and Bechar. A total block. "Cevital does not own the quantity of 1.4 tons of treated kif Car trafficking network land on which the oilseed and 1,917 psychotropic pills were dismantled, 19 arrested trituration plant is supposed to be seized. In Blida, 19 members of a criminal built," he told the media. As such, network specializing in car he claimed that the law forbids him Contraband smuggling: trafficking were apprehended by from releasing the materials and Sizable quantity of goods the police on 18 May. The network equipment imported by the private seized was active in Bouira, Setif, Ain company, despite pressure from In Tamanrasset, 5.8 tons of Defla and Chlef. associations and the civil society, contraband foodstuffs, gold mining until Cevital acquires the necessary equipment and 850 liters of fuel Eight unauthorized divers authorizations. were seized between 16 and 19 and coral traffickers May. In El Tarf, Tebessa and el- arrested in El Kala Prices of passports and Tarf, 10,343 liters of fuel were In El Kala, El Tarf province, eight driving licenses to increase seized on 17 May. In Mascara, one unauthorized divers were Rather than imposing taxes on ton of fruit and vegetables was apprehended by the coast guard widely consumed products, the intercepted by the gendarmerie on on 19 and 20 May, and a large government has decided to 21 May. quantity of coral seized. The divers increase the price of passports, are believed to be part of a driving licenses and national ID Anti-corruption association criminal network which facilitates stamps. A stamp for a 24-page accuses social security fund the smuggling of coral toward passport will reach 10,000 dinars of corruption Tunisia. later this year, as opposed to 6,000 The Algerian Association Against dinars currently. For a 48-page Corruption (AACC) denounced passport, citizens will have to pay "irregularities" in the acquisition of

Economy Algeria Weekly Summary

50,000 dinars, against 12,000 dinars currently, which represents an increase of over 300%. The price for fast track 48-page passports will reach 150,000 dinars. As for national ID cards, stamps will cost 2,500 dinars instead of 1,000. Likewise, stamps for driver’s licenses will cost 15,000 dinars for sedans and 30,000 dinars for trucks, representing a 500% increase.

Outlook Algeria Weekly Summary

Political: Security: Economy & social: Tensions over the Polisario issue Since April 2018, 27 Islamic insur- The civil society expressed its frustra- have continued to flare between Mo- gents affiliated with - al Qaeda in the tion with increased prices of vegeta- rocco and Algeria this week. Moroc- Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) surrendered bles and fruit in various regions of co has persisted in accusing Algeria to the army in the northeast and the country, only a week after the and Iran, via its proxy Hezbollah, of deep south, and three others were Ministry of Trade vowed to keep destabilizing security in north Africa. captured. While al-Qaeda militants prices down during Ramadan. Prices While tensions are expected to re- will continue to surrender in ex- however remained high in the prov- main heightened in the short-term, change for amnesty, security forces inces of Oran, Algiers, Constantine, physical confrontations are unlikely. have mobilized over 7,000 troops to Bejaia and Mostaganem. Further There nevertheless remains a height- conduct counter-terrorism opera- increases may provoke social unrest, ened threat of civil unrest in Tindouf. tions on the border regions and in as the civil society warned that con- Protests outside the Moroccan Em- Kabylie, due to an increased threat sumers are considering a boycott of bassy in Algiers are also possible of terrorist attacks during Ramadan certain products, as well as strikes in should rhetoric continue to escalate. and Eid al-Fitr. the public sector.

The dismantling of a pro-Islamic State cell in Mostaganem indicates that the insurgent group remains operative in Algeria, despite reports claiming that the remaining members of IS offshoots had fled to Tuni- sia and Libya.

Forecast of Events 2018 Algeria Weekly Summary

DATE EVENT COMMENT

16 May - 15 Ramadan Month-long religious holiday - reduced hours June 2018* 15 Jun 2018 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) Religious and national holiday - widespread business closures 5 Jul 2018 Independence Day National holiday- widespread business closures

22 Aug 2018 Eid ul-Ad’ha—Sacrifice Feast Religious and national holiday - widespread business closures 11 Sep 2018 Muharram –Islamic New Year Religious holiday - widespread business closures

20 Sep 2018 Ashura— 10th day of Muharram Religious holiday - widespread business closures

1 Nov 2018 Anniversary of the start of Algerian National holiday- widespread business closures indepdence war 20 Nov 2018 Mawlid Nabawi—Birth of Prophet Religious holiday - widespread business closures Mohamed

* Muslim holidays are often determined by local sightings of lunar phases; dates given are approximate.

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