Senior US Official in Algeria for Talks on Tunisian Crisis, Terrorism Fight

Arab World

July 27th, 6:25am

Algiers - Boualem Goumrassa

US Acting Assistant Secretary Hood meets with Algerian Prime Minister Benaberrahmane. (US State Department of State for Near Eastern Affairs via Twitter)

US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood discussed with Algerian officials on Monday the developments in neighboring Tunisia following President Kais Saied’s decision to sack the government and suspend parliament. Earlier, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had received a phone call from Saied to tackle developments in Tunisia. “The two presidents also addressed the prospects for Algerian-Tunisian relations and the ways and means of their consolidation,” said a statement from the Algerian presidency. Meanwhile, Hood was received by Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Sunday, according to an Algerian foreign ministry statement. The pair discussed “prospects for the promotion of peaceful political solutions to the various crises undermining the peace and security in North Africa and the Middle East”, it said. They also touched on the fight “against terrorism in the Sahel” and “the situation in Libya, Mali and Western Sahara." Hood also “had fruitful discussions” with Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane, the US embassy said. Sources revealed that Algeria and the US are keen on the Libyans resolving their problems through political means. They also discussed the latest talks between Washington and Ankara on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Libya. Hood praised the key role Algeria plays in maintaining stability in the region. His two-day visit is part of a tour in the Middle East and North Africa that started on July 24 and includes stops in Morocco and Kuwait.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3100516/senior-us-official-algeria-talks-tunisian-crisis-terrorism-fight