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The Spanish Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska was received this Monday by the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the sidelines of his visit to Algiers during which he spoke with his Algerian counterpart Said Sayoud on bilateral cooperation focused on security, the fight against organized crime and the management of migratory flows.
Mr. Boualem Boualem, director of the cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, and Mr. Saïd Sayoud, as well as the Spanish Ambassador to Algeria Mr. Fernando Moran attended this audience.
Previously, the two ministers met at the headquarters of the Algerian Ministry of the Interior and discussed their “sustained efforts aimed at deepening and broadening the prospects for fruitful cooperation between our two ministries, which has reached a remarkable level in many areas.”
In a speech, Mr. Sayoud welcomed the results of the work of the joint security cooperation commission, held in Madrid on October 13, 2025, specifying that the discussions concluded with several technical agreements. Among the most notable is “the establishment of an efficient system for detecting falsified documents, developed by the Spanish border police”, from which Algeria will benefit through a transfer of expertise and technological solutions adapted to its border needs.
The minister also mentioned the joint decision of the two delegations to “establish a mechanism for the exchange and comparison of genetic fingerprints and biometric data concerning persons presumed to be of Algerian nationality who died during clandestine maritime crossings”. This humanitarian initiative aims to identify victims of the tragedies of irregular migration and to guarantee respect for their dignity.
Furthermore, the two parties agreed to “accelerate the processing of letters rogatory sent by the Algerian Ministry of Justice concerning the recovery of assets illicitly acquired abroad”, a priority file for the Algerian authorities in their policy of transparency and accountability. The discussions also focused on the need to exchange experiences in the creation of intelligence centers specialized in the fight against transnational organized crime, in particular drug trafficking, human trafficking and money laundering.
Addressing the migration issue, Mr. Sayoud highlighted the efforts made by Algeria in managing this complex phenomenon. He indicated that “during 2024, more than 100,000 attempts at irregular migration to North Africa and Europe were prevented,” while “more than 82,000 migrants were repatriated to their countries of origin in conditions that respect their dignity and fundamental rights.”
The minister wished to recall that “despite the pressures and threats posed by this phenomenon, Algeria has never used the migration issue as a means of blackmail or political bargaining”, contrary, he noted, to certain practices observed elsewhere. For him, illegal migration “today goes beyond national borders” and “constitutes a global challenge fueled by transnational criminal networks active throughout the Mediterranean”.
Madrid praises the quality of the partnership
For his part, the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, praised “the exceptional quality of bilateral relations between Algeria and Spain”, describing Algeria as “an essential partner and friendly country”. He insisted that the two nations “share common challenges that require enhanced cooperation and coordinated approaches.”
The Spanish official, who came with a high-level delegation, specified that this visit aims to “consolidate consultation around major security issues, in particular the fight against terrorism, criminal networks and irregular immigration”. He stressed that “the reduction of migratory flows and the dismantling of smuggling networks constitute a priority for the security of our societies and the protection of vulnerable populations”.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska also expressed his gratitude to the Algerian authorities for “the efforts made in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling”, estimating that “the exemplary cooperation between Algiers and Madrid is now reflected at the international level”.
The two ministers agreed to strengthen exchanges of expertise in the areas of disaster relief, training of intervention teams, and prevention of forest fires, a key issue for the two Mediterranean countries. Experts from both sides are currently preparing a joint roadmap that will set priorities and coordination mechanisms for the period 2026–2028.
In the field of road safety, discussions between experts have made it possible to move forward on several axes, such as the integration of the point-based permit system, the collection and analysis of accident data, and the strengthening of prevention campaigns.