Algeria: three soldiers killed on the border with Mali

Three Algerian soldiers died on Sunday March 20 near Timiaouine in the department of Borj Badji Mokhtar (illustration image) REUTERS / Louafi Larbi

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The Ministry of Defense announced in a press release that three Algerian soldiers were killed on Sunday March 20 near Timiaouine, in the department of Borj Badji Mokhtar near the Malian border, during fights against terrorists.

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According to Algiers, the soldiers were facing "

".

"

 " who, say the authorities, seek to destabilize Algeria by striking the 6th military division located 2,500 km south of the capital.

The Algerian Ministry of Defense does not give more details on the nature of the armed group behind the attack.

But some observers see the hand of Aqmi, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, reinforced by former members of the Algerian GIA who had fled to Mali from the 2000s, the two movements having common interests, indicates Zoheir Bouamama , professor of political science at the University of Algiers.

This clash occurs less than two months after another which also took place on the Mali border.

He then caused the death of two Algerian soldiers.

" 

 ", specifies the Algerian academic.

According to him, the withdrawal of the French and Europeans from the north of Malian territory leaves a security vacuum and this type of attack could multiply.

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• Algeria

• mali

• Terrorism