Merkel visits Algeria to discuss migration, terror
News & Trends •
algeria is a major transit route for migrants from sub-saharan africa attempting to reach europe via the mediterranean sea1 german chancellor angela merkel travelled to algeria on monday to discuss migration issues and how to combat terror1 the chancellor is also meeting prime minister ahmed ouyahia during the one-day trip1 merkel was also expected to address the long-standing conflict between algeria and its western neighbour morocco1 a planned visit in february 2017 was cancelled at the last minute as a result of bouteflikas health1 the president is 81 years old and has been in office since 19991 another aim of the talks with president abdelaziz bouteflika in algiers is to boost algerias role as a stabilising factor in north africa merkels office indicated1 the german government is under domestic pressure to cut migration1 one of the aims of merkels trip is to facilitate the deportation of algerian nationals whose applications for political asylum have been denied by germany1 germanys grand coalition plans to characterise algeria tunisia and morocco as safe countries of origin thus easing the repatriation process for the german authorities1 while in algeria merkel is to visit a girls high school initiated in 2008 by the german foreign office as part of its partners for the future programme1 she will also hold discussions with representatives of civil society1