Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, arrived in Algiers on Sunday evening for talks on Monday with his Algerian counterpart Said Sayoud on numerous bilateral issues including immigration and security cooperation.
Mr. Grande-Marlaska, who became the first member of Pedro Sanchez’s government in Algeria since March 2022, was welcomed on his arrival at Algiers airport by Mr. Sayoud who was accompanied by the Wali of Algiers Mohamed Rabehi and the Director General of National Security Ali Badaoui
This visit, which follows that carried out by Brahim Merad, the former Minister of the Interior, in February 2025, will be devoted to immigration issues, security cooperation in the Maghreb region and the Sahel, the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
Strengthen relations between the two countries
Grande-Marlaska is accompanied by a delegation that will be composed of the general directors of International Relations and Foreigners Elena Garzón, of Civil Protection and Emergency Situations, Virginia Barcones, the general director of Road Safety, Pere Navarro, the general commissioner of Foreigners and Borders of the National Police, Julián Ávila and the head of the Border Command and Maritime Police of the Guard civil, Manuel Navarrete.
The meeting between the two officials takes place in a context where illegal immigration has reached its maximum in the Balearic Islands, via the Algerian maritime route. A path which, from January to the end of last month, was taken by nearly 6,000 citizens from Africa, or 84% more than the previous year, according to reports from the Ministry of the Interior.
Spanish Ambassador Fernando Moran (right of image) welcoming Mr. Grande-Marlaska
The incessant arrivals of Algerian and sub-Saharan harraga had pushed Spanish and Algerian officials to work together to curb, if not reduce, the phenomenon, through common mechanisms. Many illegal immigrants, including minors, are in reception centers, particularly in Almeria and Alicante. But even more serious, Algeria has become the departure point for sub-Saharan illegal immigrants and Somalis.