Magharebia

Facing growing chaos next door, Algeria on Monday (May 19th) moved to close all border crossings with Libya.

Meanwhile, state energy firm Sonatrach repatriated its workers from Libya and halted production in the country. The decision came just three days after Algeria evacuated its diplomatic posts in Libya.

The Algerian army command also raised the security alert status along the Libyan border and tightened controls on the Tinalkoum and Debdab border crossings.

Only Algerian citizens were allowed, after examination and investigation, to cross from Libya and only Libyan citizens could travel into their country, Echorouk quoted a security source as saying.

The border is closed indefinitely, travellers were told.

"The decision of the Algerian authorities to close the border was expected in view of the security threats and to thwart any attempts by armed groups to infiltrate Algeria and target vital sites," security affairs analyst Omar Abderrahmane told Magharebia.

Algeria had "previously carried out a similar measure during the events of the Libyan revolution that toppled Kadhafi", he said.

"The difference here is the presence of armed groups associated with al-Qaeda in different parts of the Libyan soil and planning to target Algeria," he added.

Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said that the Algerian community in Libya was not "the focus of a targeted attack", but called on Algerian nationals to use caution, common sense and vigilance against the backdrop of insecurity in the neighbouring country.

"Algeria will spare no effort to protect its borders and the People's National Army has a pioneering experience in the fight against terrorism," Lamamra said in a statement.

According to Echorouk, army intelligence collected information about a serious threat from terrorist organisations looking to carry out an attack in Algeria. This information prompted the re-activation of closed military zones that were in place during the events in Libya three years ago, before things calmed down a bit in the last two years.

Algerian authorities fear the spread of chaos to areas adjacent to the border, with armed groups exploiting the situation to carry out operations, especially since intelligence reports spoke of the presence of tens of Algerians active within groups loyal to al-Qaeda within the Libyan territory.

Security sources confirmed the death of two Algerian members of Ansar al-Sharia in the Benghazi battles, namely Kamel Nouar and Abou Othman al-Jazairi in addition to the serious wounding of a third individual known as Abou al-Fath al-Jazairi.

Zouheir Bouamama, professor of international relations at the University of Algiers said, "The situation in Libya is becoming increasingly complex that could turn it into a new Somalia with many actors. Any explosion in Libya can transfer fragments to neighbouring countries. Everyone is aware that the situation is serious and action must be taken in Libya before it explodes."

"All reports classify Libya as a failed state and the most dangerous. Worse, matters are deteriorating meaning toward a total collapse, and this means Somaliaisation of Libya," the professor added. "Libya has become hostage to armed groups. They pose the biggest obstacle to building a safe and stable Libyan state."