The Spanish authorities have just extradited a former Algerian soldier who took part in the Hirak movements and who had fled Algeria. A way for Madrid to contain the anger of Algiers after the Sahara affair?
It was this Thursday, March 24, in the evening, that the former Algerian soldier Mohamed Benhalima was extradited by the Spanish authorities. The man had fled Algeria after taking part in the popular protest movement, the Hirak, which shook this North African country to the point of expelling former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power. The plane, which was carrying the 32-year-old former corporal, landed at Algiers International Airport last night.
According to information broadcast by the Algerian media, the man, who was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for publishing false information and against whom an international arrest warrant had been issued, appeared handcuffed, in the process of getting off a Spanish airline plane. When he got off the plane, he was picked up by elements of the Algerian security forces.
Hunted on all sides by the Algerian authorities, Mohamed Benhalima, who had seen his request for political asylum introduced in Spain rejected, had nevertheless left the Iberian kingdom to go to France. His hearing by the French authorities, who had nevertheless released him after a few questions, had not reassured him. He then decides to leave France and drops off his backpack in Portugal.
How Mohamed Benhalima ended up in Spain again
A bad choice, since Mohamed Benhalima will be arrested by the Portuguese authorities, who have found nothing better than to hand over the Algerian national to their Spanish counterparts. A week ago, from a detention center for foreigners in Valencia where he had been placed, he managed to inform the public about his situation. The negotiations of his Spanish lawyer, Eduardo Gomez Cuadrado, will have been for nothing since he was extradited to his country.
Extradition intervenes at the height of the tension between Madrid and Algiers, due in particular to the change of position of Spain which has just recognized the Moroccanity of Western Sahara. A decision that has triggered the anger of the Algerian authorities, who, in addition to having recalled the ambassador accredited to Madrid, are suspected of seeing how to cut Spain off from the gas they supply to this European country.
What to wonder if the gesture of the Spanish authorities does not go in the direction of calming the anger of their Algerian counterparts. Especially for the case of Mohamed Benhalima, accused of activities contrary to Algerian national security. Which activities “could compromise Spain’s relations with other countries”, including Algeria.
