The Algerian authorities announced this week that they had given the green light to their consulate in Oujda, Morocco, to repatriate the remains of a young Algerian who died in January. According to the newspaper Echorouk, the land border between Morocco and Algeria, closed since August 1994, will be exclusively reopened to repatriate the remains of the 23-year-old deceased. One of Emad Bourqba's family members told the newspaper that the consulate informed them of the decision, announcing that the body of the Algerian national could be repatriated at any time, as soon as Algeria receives approval from the Moroccan government. Emad Bourqba is from the border village of Al-Abed, in the municipality of Bouaihi in the far west of Tlemcen. He was found dead in January, near the Moroccan city of Oujda «in mysterious circumstances». His death is still under investigation, which delayed his repatriation. Echorouk recalls that the Zouj Beghal border post has been closed since 1994, with the exception of certain cases.
