Maghreb Edition

Algeria: More insurgents surrender as military renews call for amnesty, says MEA RiskF

Posted On 17 May 2018

Number of times this article was read : 364

The North Africa Journal: May 17, 2018: MEA Risk LLC reports that four more Islamic insurgents surrendered to the army in the province of Tamanrasset in Algeria this week in a series of surrenders boosted by the military call for amnesty for those willing to give up the insurgency. The militants who surrendered this week were identified as Mouaouia, Djaber, Abu Said and Abu Moussa, who joined al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) between 2012 and 2015. A steady number of Algerian insurgents based in Mali and southern Algeria are surrendering to benefit from clemency offers, after the military command reiterated the amnesty gesture earlier this year. So far this year, more than 30 militants turned themselves in.  MEA Risk’s Critical Incidents Tracker says sweeping operations in Tebessa, Jijel, Sidi Bel-Abbes, Medea, Bouira, Chlef, Batna and Ain Defla allowed the discovery of 34 insurgent hideouts and 41 homemade bombs. There are currently more than 2,000 troops on the ground in Tebessa, in an operation to neutralize an AQIM group composed of a dozen militants. This group is said to have planted a bomb which exploded in a forested area, wounding one senior officer earlier this week.

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Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.