Generally, smuggling follows three phases. Each one is supported by a group of experienced smugglers. First, there is a group of people responsible for the purchase and storage, on the Algerian territory, of products to "export". Usually, the products for smuggling are hidden in the desert. Once the task done, a second group intervenes to cross the border with the products intended to be smuggled into the Sahel. Finally, a third team takes over the easiest job which consists of selling the "goods".
Even if, according to experts, there is still much to do to seal completely the borders, the Algerian security services are tightening the control of smuggling channels provoking huge losses. We can take the example of the smuggling of fuel. Last September, over 2,000 Malians were left "unemployed". A considerable number of smugglers were arrested and several were had their vehicles confiscated. These are considerable losses for smugglers especially that there is no alternative to the Algerian market "for the moment. Libya, the neighbour country that once used to provide abundantly the region with fuel, is torn apart by civil war and is undermined by terrorism.
In this war against smugglers, Algeria is clearly not alone. Colonel Mohamed Bachir, in charge of Coordination of the Azawad movements, is aware of the seriousness of the issue and is willing to offer his assistance and that of his staff to fight the "bloodsuckers".
he sates in an insisting way: "Our Algerian brothers need our help and this fuel smuggling must be combated rigorously and tirelessly." However, for the war against smugglers to succeed, we have to offer an alternative to young people in northern Mali, who are currently enrolled (sometimes forcibly) in criminal networks. A great number of young people are not involved in smuggling activities lightly. Some do not show up again, either because they were arrested or they were killed.
This is the story of young Soumeylou who disappeared and left no track. Fatimatou, his mother is plagued by anxiety day and night. She has not seen her son for nearly a year. Soumeylou, was barely twenty years old. He was persuaded by his friends that he could earn money by becoming a smuggler. Plagued by poverty, he jumped with both feet into the ruthless world of smuggling. But since he left, he has given no sign of life. While sobbing, she says: "I am thinking of the worst. What he is doing is so risky. His bosses say he is fine but I do not trust them. I know him. He would have enquired about me, he would have come to see me. Oh, my God... I'm scared."
Did Soumeylou have the choice? Could he do otherwise in an extremely poor Mali, a country living into a hopeless crisis?
Oumar, an 18-year-old driver of a 4x4 vehicle which he uses to smuggle fuel on the Kidal Tinzaoutine-axis, believes he does not have any choice. He says: "Although this work is extremely risky but do I have any choice? My family is poor and my father is no longer able to meet the family's needs. What can you do in an area that provides you with no opportunity to earn your living honestly? For me, it is a matter of life or death. If I stay jobless, it would mean that I chose to let my family starve. Among all evils, I will choose the least."
One of his fellow has the same feelings and adds: "After all, this is just business. We are not smugglers, we are rather traders and traders are here to make profit. We find fuel at low prices and we sell it at an affordable price. Where's the harm? Others followed the terrorists". It is true that terrorists are also investing in smuggling to fund their criminal activities.
But unfortunately for these "nice" businessmen who take risks just to feed their families or to make money, the security services in the region do not distinguish between smugglers and terrorists, especially that for a long time, it has been established that there are communicating vessels between them.
It is no secret for anyone, the extreme volatility of the security situation in the Sahel causes huge problems to Algerian security services. Fearing infiltration of terrorist groups on its territory, the Algerian government has decided since 2011 to strengthen its controls at its borders with Libya, Niger and Mali. The wish of Algeria to make its border uncrossable does not have security motivations only.
Since oil and gas prices lost half their value, Algeria has seen its foreign exchange earnings fall by 40%. The country is known to depend to 98% on the sale of its hydrocarbons. Despite the crisis affecting the oil market, the country is still continuing to subsidise the prices of basic commodities like sugar, semolina, milk or fuels. Some fuels are sold at low prices, even though they are imported. In reality, even milk and semolina are imported.
To avoid all these subsidized products - that weigh heavily upon the state budget - are found on the other side of the borders, the army and the Algerian police have waged a merciless war against smugglers. The results are encouraging. For two years at least, there have not been many arrests of smugglers and seizures of weapons or goods. The Algerian army hits two targets with one single bullet as it is tracking many drug traffickers who swarm in the region.
It is quite simply, the Algerian government has made of the fight against smuggling a national priority as the phenomenon is affecting negatively the national economy. In July, the former Algerian Minister of Interior, Mr. Daho Ould the Kablia described the phenomenon as " a security-based and an economic problem" that threatens the stability of Algeria. At a time, fuel smuggling became so large that the diesel and petrol were no longer available in Tamanrasset or Ain Salah, two provinces on the borders with Mali.
However, the fight against smuggling is still far from being won. It is even more strenuous, as smuggling networks are well trained and the territories to monitor are immense. To give an idea of the difficult nature of the mission, the Algerian security services have to monitor a territory which is 2 to 3 times that of France. It is a real security challenge.
