Friday, February 7, 2025
HomeMaghrebAU chairman sends condolences to Algeria following military plane crash

AU chairman sends condolences to Algeria following military plane crash

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has sent the condolences of the AU to the Algerian government.

 

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has sent the condolences of the AU to the Algerian government and families of the victims of Wednesdayโ€™s military plane crash in Algeria which killed at least 257 people, stating that the tragedy affected not only Algeria but the whole continent.

- Advertisement -

At least 26 members of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria and seeking independence from Morocco for Western Sahara, are said to be among the dead.

Mohammedย Achour, the chief spokesman for the civil protection agency, said theย Russian-designed Il-76 military transport plane had been carrying soldiers.

The flight had just taken off from Boufarik, about 30km south-west of Algiers, when it crashed. It was bound for a military base in Bรฉchar in the south-west of the country, Achour said.

It was scheduled to make a stopover in Tindouf, in western Algeria, home to many refugees from the neighbouring Western Sahara, a disputed territory annexed by Morocco.

TV footageย showed 14 ambulances at the scene transferring the injured to hospital andย smoke from a wreckage in the field.

Anย investigation into reasons for the crash has been ordered by the Algeriaโ€™s military chief.

Four yearsย ago a plane carrying military personnel and family members crashedย inย Algeria, killing 77 people.

 

- Advertisement -
Advertisement

Recent