Im Jahr 2006 hatte Algerien wegen der hohen Kosten verzichtet, eine elektronische Mauer an seiner Südküste zu errichten. Damals wurden die Kosten auf 1,6 Mrd. Dollar veranschlagt. Nun hat der algerische elektronische Mauerbau begonnen. Die ersten 50 km sind bereits nahe der algerischen Stadt Bourj Badji Mokhtar installiert. Das algerische Militär ist Bauherr.
Die Tuareg-Aufstände in Nord-Mali und die anstehende Militär-Intervention gelten als Auslöser des neuen Grenzregimes in der Sahara. Hauptsächlich bewirkt es aber eine Abschottung gegenüber Flüchtlingen und MigrantInnen aus der Sahara und aus West- wie Zentralafrika.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2012/11/16/feature-03
Algeria considers border surveillance system
With international intervention looming in Mali, Algeria is taking another look at a border surveillance system.
By Walid Ramzi for Magharebia in Algiers
Algeria is studying the creation of a sophisticated system to monitor its borders and secure entries used by terrorists and smugglers to infiltrate from the Sahara.
Numidia News reported November 6th that Algeria intends to launch an international tender for the project. The defence ministry had postponed implementation of the project, which was scheduled to commence in 2011. The ministry has already received delegations from foreign companies specialising in monitoring systems.
The issue has become especially important due to the increase in security threats and the fears of continued security deterioration in the Sahel.
The system will operate through the deployment of electronic surveillance points, alarms and radars to detect infiltration attempts by people and vehicles. This system will work in conjunction with the launch of intensive aerial operations along the border.
This project was first explored in 2006, but the Algerian authorities decided to postpone its implementation because of its high cost, then estimated at $1.5 billion. The measures are expected to include radar coverage, additional patrols, modern surveillance systems, as well as the possibility of using airborne traffic control and other measures.
„Algeria relies on a double-pronged approach to border protection,“ according to Taher Ben Thamer, a former military officer. „They are securing the borders and launching measures to develop the border areas by stabilising the actual population via opening routes and new roads to facilitate the movement of goods. They are also developing commercial activities by laying a fiber optic network, allowing users to keep in touch with their relatives.“
Ben Thamer added that the deteriorating security situation on the border with Mali and the unstable situation in Libya „pushed the Algerian authorities to take such security measures in order to counter any potential dangers that the southern cities may face“.
Algerian Army units in November began building a 50km-long electric fence between the Algerian town of Bourj Badji Mokhtar and Malian territory. El Khabar reported that the fenced off area was one of the most sensitive for the country.
„The situation witnessed by Mali is a microcosm of what the region of the Sahel could experience in the event of the countries of the region failing to stop cross-border arms smuggling,“ according to Kamal Hadif, a specialist in Malian security affairs.