Algerian sailors\' boats Algerian-Tunisian borders have been living in a state of never-seen-before danger for the past three days, bringing along with it a dangerous blow to diplomatic relations between the two countries. The issue came after Algerian Navy forces stopped six Tunisians last week who were on a boat and entered Algerian territorial waters illegally and tried to smuggle a significant amount of coral or as it is otherwise known as “red gold.” Three of them were then prosecuted to three years in jail, in which Tunisian sailors responded to by detaining 30 Algerian sailors on top of 5 fishing boats in Tabarka Harbor in Tunisia. They remain detained until now. The sailors also attempted to detain the Algerian Consul in Al Kaf city on Wednesday night, after he went to the harbor to try and find a solution for the release of the detained sailors. Tunisian sailors are demanding for the release of the detained Tunisian boat and sailors onboard. In return, Algerian sailors responded by threatening to stand in the way of cars trying to get into Algeria through land by the Algerian-Tunisian borders. Tunisian authorities have taken this matter seriously.
Algerian security sources told Arabstoday that Customs agencies and Tunisian Coast Guard advised Tunisians wishing to enter Algerian land not to do so with their private cars, as they may be detained by Algerian civilians who are angry about the sailors’ case. Tunisian authorities enforced heavy security on Algerian fishing boats after Tunisian sailors threatened to burn them down. Both countries engaged in marathon negotiations before the issue gets out of hand. The Directorate of Fisheries for the Taref province in Algeria initiated follow-up action of a specialised boat maintenance Tunisian company as being responsible for the fate of the 30 sailors Algerians after the completion of the maintenance of the five boats on the port of Tabarka.