Algeria, Niger to work together on counterterrorism, illegal migration

Algeria and Niger share convergent views in terms of the fight against terrorism and illegal migration, Algerian Minister Abdelkader Messahel said on Sunday.

Messahel, minister for Maghreb Affairs, the African Union and the Arab League, made the remarks after talks with visiting Interior Minister of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum.

The two have discussed bilateral relations amid "challenges in the sub-region, including terrorism, illegal immigration and trafficking," said the minister.

He suggested that Algiers and Niamy strengthen ties, and reiterated that tackling such issues requires collaborative efforts of countries in the region and also the international community.

He concluded that sub-regional strategy should be drawn up soon to defend their points of view at the UN, in the international fora, and with partners, particularly in Europe.

For his part, Bazoum, currently on a working visit in Algeria, hailed the meeting as an opportunity to discuss regional security related issues, saying that the two countries could take up joint actions.

Bazoum held talks with top government officials on the same day, including Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal.

Faced by several plagues, including terrorist threats, smuggling and illegal immigration, the two neighboring nations are joining efforts under the mechanism of "core countries" which group Algeria, Niger, Mali, Chad and Mauritania. Endit