Debdeb
Debdeb is a border town and commune of In Amenas District, Illizi Province, Algeria, situated on the country's border with Libya. It had a population of 4,341 as of the 2008 census. Located in the middle of the Sahara, Debdeb has a hot desert climate and is connected with the rest of Algeria by the N53 national highway. It was previously a frequent transit point for West African immigrants to Europe.
Geography and administration
The commune consists of seven localities: Debdeb, Aïn Sabri, Fort Saint, Stah, Merixen, Alrar Erg, and Yagous. Its postal code is 33220 and its ONS code is 3303.Debdeb lies at an altitude of near the northern edge of the Hamada de Tinrhert, a large rocky area of the Sahara along the Algeria–Libya border. The Grand Erg Oriental, a vast area of sand dunes, lies to the north.
Debdeb borders Libya to the east; it was a frequent transit point for West African immigrants who travelled to Libya in hopes of reaching Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The influx of immigrants, along with the start of the Second Libyan Civil War, prompted the Algerian government to close the Ghadames–Debdeb border crossing with Libya in 2014. The border crossing was renovated and reopened on 12 December 2023, following the war's end three years prior.