A Swiss tourist was brutally murdered on Oct. 11 while vacationing in the southeastern Algerian oasis town of Djanet.
The news, confirmed by the Swiss foreign ministry, was first reported by the French newspaper Libération on Oct. 22 which claimed the Algerian authorities had kept the murder under wraps for more than 10 days.
The victim was part of a group of five Swiss nationals traveling in the region. The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, was sitting on the terrace of the Skaner café, located in Djanet’s city center near the National Tourism Office, when she was attacked by a man armed with a bladed weapon.
She is understood to have had her throat slit.
According to local sources, she was evacuated to a hospital in Djanet but succumbed to her injuries due to significant blood loss. The crime has shocked both the local community and tourists in this region, referred to by the Algerian press as one of the country’s “tourist jewels” due to its desert landscapes and proximity to the UNESCO-listed Tassili n’Ajjer National Park.
Travel warnings, however, have been in place for European nationals with the Swiss foreign ministry suggesting visits to the Djanet province are “not recommended due to the “risk of being the victim of kidnapping or an act of terror.” The region borders Libya and Niger, both of which have experienced significant political instability in recent times.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder, one of whom was reportedly apprehended by local citizens. The suspects are said to be from northern Algeria, having spent six months in Djanet disguised as Tuaregs, traditionally nomads associated with the large Berber ethnic group.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and it is yet to be determined whether it was an isolated incident or part of a broader scheme. The local authorities have been tight-lipped, with social media activity around the event kept to a minimum, creating a sense of “radio silence” in the area, Libération reported.
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed the violent death of a Swiss citizen and stated that the four remaining members of the tourist group had been evacuated from the country. No further details have been provided by the FDFA out of respect for personal privacy.
An investigation has been launched, and security in the area has been ramped up, with military checkpoints now established to monitor activity.
The silence in reporting from the Algerian authorities has raised concerns, particularly as the North African country looks to boost its tourism sector.
The Swiss embassy in Algiers is understood to be in close contact with local officials, working to gather more information about the crime and ensure the safety of any remaining tourists in the region.
