The first session of the bilateral commission for the promotion and development of the Algerian-Tunisian border regions kicked off Monday in Algiers to discuss a strategy to develop shared border regions of the two North African nations.
Co-chaired by Algerian Interior Minister Brahim Merad and his Tunisian counterpart Kamel Feki, the session unfolded with a commitment to fortifying shared border areas in the face of armed individuals, smugglers, and illegal migration.
Addressing the session's opening, Merad highlighted the focus on realizing partnership opportunities and maximizing available potential in the border area.
He emphasized the establishment of a bilateral cooperation mechanism as a tangible outcome of what he termed "fruitful cooperation on all levels."
The minister pointed to discussions in 2021 between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Kais Saied, where issues related to border region development and the mitigation of threats were extensively deliberated.
The Algerian minister underscored the ongoing efforts directed at implementing diverse development programs, with a strategic objective to alleviate disparities and address imbalances in the border regions.
Merad detailed government-launched initiatives for development projects in the border region, emphasizing the need to enhance conditions for travelers at the joint nine border crossings, which serve as active trading hubs.
Also, he called for reinforced epidemiological monitoring along the border to address new pandemics and ensure preparedness against emerging security challenges, particularly in the context of illegal migration.
The minister expressed anticipation that the meetings, attended by governors from southern states, would yield applicable recommendations that prioritize the aspirations and demands of residents in the southern region, ultimately contributing to economic and social development.
Of particular concern to Algeria is the smuggling of large quantities of subsidized gasoline to Tunisia, where its price is three times less.
Carnegie Middle East Center revealed in a study published in 2020 that “from the perspective of local authorities, smuggling functions as a safety valve that relieves some of the economic pressure felt by the inhabitants of Algeria’s neglected eastern provinces.” Moreover, smugglers enhance the security services’ efforts to keep the dreaded triple threat of drugs, weapons, and militants at bay.
“For communities of the borderlands, smuggling contraband into and out of Tunisia presents one of the precious few job opportunities in a region otherwise characterized by unemployment. The activity takes place on such a large scale that it has created a parallel illegal economy,” the Center confirmed.
“The products smuggled from Algeria into Tunisia include gasoline, livestock (especially sheep), auto parts, copper, electronics manufactured by the Algerian brand Condor, perfume, cosmetics, yogurt, powdered milk, and potatoes.”
The study revealed that a gasoline smuggler earns between $150 and $300 per day - and this activity accounts for 75 percent of the economic activity in the region.
“Were the state to clamp down on smugglers, borderland communities would feel even more alienated and might grow restive,” the Center noted, adding that “such smugglers might fall prey to the enticements of jihadis—who they have thus far shunned—and take up work transporting them and their weapons back and forth across the border.”
