Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said on Saturday in Nouakchott that his country "will not accept to host centers for illegal migrants" on its soil, saying that Algeria's position on the matter already expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel.
"The position of Algeria was already expressed two days ago by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Algeria will not accept hosting such centers", Ouyahia said, noting that" Europeans are looking for where to place their centers. "
Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia spoke in a brief statement to the international press about the "landing centers for illegal migrants" upon his arrival at the Conference and Congress Center where the 31st Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, Sunday and Monday.
The Brussels meeting underscored how Europe's 2015 spike in immigration continues to cause tensions within the bloc, despite a sharp drop in arrivals of people fleeing conflict and economic hardship in the Middle East and Africa.
They agreed to tighten their external border and increase financing for Turkey, Morocco and other North African states to prevent migration to Europe.
The mass influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East to the European Union began back in 2015, however, the bloc is still facing serious political divisions over the response to the problem.
