Algeria has arrested seven people including four Moroccans accused of belonging to a “spy ring”, prosecutors said on Sunday, less than a week before the country’s presidential election.
Officials in Tlemcen, a northwestern city near the border with Morocco, said the arrested were placed in provisional detention “following the recent dismantling of an espionage and intelligence network aimed at undermining the security of the state”.
A judicial investigation on charges including spying for another country has been opened, the prosecutors said, with three of the Moroccan nationals also suspected of entering Algeria illegally.
“This network recruited Moroccan and Algerian nationals with the aim of undermining Algerian security and administrative institutions,” the public prosecutor’s office added.
Algeria will go to the polls next Saturday to choose a president. Incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune is the clear favourite to see off moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani and socialist candidate Youssef Aouchiche.
Tensions have been high between Morocco and Algeria, with the north African neighbours at odds over issues including the disputed territory of Western Sahara and Rabat’s normalisation of relations with Israel.
Algiers broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021, denouncing a series of “hostile acts” by its neighbour.
It accuses Rabat of backing the separatist MAK movement, which seeks independence for the restive Kabylie region. MAK is considered a terrorist organisation by Algiers.
Rejecting Algeria’s accusations, Morocco deemed the decision to break off diplomatic relations “completely unjustified”.
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