Drama in Algeria –
Mystery surrounding the assassination of a Swiss tourist in Djanet
Despite the arrest of two suspects, local and Swiss authorities remain discreet about the case, leaving many questions hanging.
Published: 10/22/2024, 11:14 a.m.
Djanet, in Algeria.
AFP
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On October 11, a Swiss tourist was brutally murdered while on vacation in the town of Djanet, located 2,300 kilometers south of Algiers. Sitting on the terrace of a café in the city center, a stone’s throw from the local tourist office, the victim was attacked and had his throat slit by a man armed with a blade. She succumbed to her injuries after being evacuated to Djanet hospital.
According to “Liberation»two suspects were reportedly arrested. The two men, originally from northern Algeria, had been in the region for several months, disguised as Tuaregs. For the moment, there is no information to determine whether this was an isolated act or motivated by other reasons. The discretion of the local authorities is striking: no official communication, either on site or via social networks, has filtered out since the event.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed the incident on Monday, specifying that it had taken charge of the group of four people who accompanied the victim, now repatriated to Switzerland. However, no further information was released.
Enhanced security measures
This murder, which occurs in one of Algeria’s most popular tourist destinations, could awaken bad memories of the years of violence that the country experienced. The Algerian south, long closed to tourists for security reasons, recently reopened its doors, notably with the inauguration of a direct air link between Paris and Djanet in 2022. This region, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, now attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Following the assassination, security measures were strengthened, including the installation of additional military checkpoints. An investigation is underway, but the Algerian authorities, like their Swiss counterparts, are currently maintaining a silence which only accentuates the questions.
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