Algeria to reportedly build a military base near its border with Morocco

Algeria is planning to build a military base in front of the Royal Armed Forces barracks project in Jerada, the Echorouk News channel revealed yesterday evening. «The country's higher authorities have also decided, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, to build a strategic military base in a location close to the Moroccan base (Jerada), in order to protect its borders and national security from the direct risks and threats posed by this presence».

«The strategic decision comes as a response to the decree of the Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani which allocates 23 hectares in the Jerada region (near borders with Algeria) to the construction of Royal Armed Forces barracks», it added.

The conservative media argued that «according to reliable intelligence, Israeli experts» would contribute to the construction of the Moroccan project.

Reject all attempts hostile to Algeria

An accusation that was repeated every time Morocco is mentioned in the Algerian press. For the record, on May 19, APS pointed the finger at a «Moroccan-Zionist lobby» for wanting to tarnish the image of Algeria in the European Parliament. The official press agency thus reacted to a letter addressed by MEPs to the High Representative of the European Union for foreign and security policy, Josep Borrell, concerning the situation of press freedom in Algeria and the abuses committed against journalists.

L’Expression has also relayed the information on the construction of an Algerian military base. The French-language daily wrote that «Algeria has all the rights to also erect a military base on this same border». It recalled that the acting army chief, General Said Chengriha, attended a live-fire military exercise in Oran. On this occasion, he invited Algerians to «reinforce efforts in order to repel all attempts hostile to Algeria».

These revelations on the construction of a military base not far from the Moroccan borders are published the same day it was announced that Said Chengriha would visit Russia to examine the conclusion of new arms contracts.