By Libya Herald reporters.
Tunis, 1 September 2016:
The UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler is to continue his regular travels to Libya’s neighbours with a visit to Algeria.
He flies on Saturday to Algiers for talks with Maghreb Affairs minister Abdelkader Massahel. He is slated to hold a press conference at the foreign ministry before he leaves on Sunday.
Algeria has long been nervous of Libya’s deteriorating security. The common border has seen the traditional smuggling of commercial goods expand to cover weapons and terrorists. Algiers tightened frontier security in the wake of the 2013 In Amenas gas processing plant attack. There is strong evidence to suggest the terrorist assault was launched from Libya.
This March Algerian security forces discovered a tunnel near Ghadames which they said had been used by terrorists .
Though its political involvement in Libya has been low-profile, Algeria was quick to back the Libyan Political Agreement. It was also the first Arab country to send a minister for talks with Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj after he had arrived in Tripoli.
