Algerian army seals borders with North Mali

The Algerian authorities have begin the process of partially sealing the border between Algeria and Mali. A senior army source announced on Wednesday that the Tamanrasset province has received strict instructions from senior military authorities to partially seal the sensitive border crossings in the area. Instructions focused on the closure of border crossings into Malian towns controlled by armed terrorist organisations, the source said, listing al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the al-Twahid wal-Jihad movement. The same source added that security forces stationed along the Algerian-Malian borders have began earlier this week to dig trenches a few kilometers away from the Malian towns adjacent to the borders, through the Bordj Badji Mokhtar and Timiaouine gateways. Security experts said the measure was an expression of Algeria’s readiness for all possible scenarios including resorting to military intervention in northern Malian towns, which could lead to the infiltration of these armed groups into Algeria. The operation, experts also pointed out, aim at securing Algerian oil after the two attacks on security headquarters in Tamanrasset and Ouargla in recent months. In related developments, one soldier was injured yesterday in an explosion in Mirzana Forest in the east of Boumerdès province, 95 kilometres to the east of Algiers. The bomb targeted army forces. Army forces fell in the trap during a combing operation aimed at investigating the remnants of the al-Qaeda organisation left in various areas in Boumerdès and Tizi Ouzou. Terrorist groups had planted the remote-controlled bomb to target the army vehicle as it approached the trap site. One soldier was injured by shrapnel. The combing operation is tracking the operatives responsible for the bombing.