The Algerian Ministry of National Defense announced the start of the second operation to clean up the Beril E2 nuclear test tunnel site on 1 November 2026. Located in In Eker, Tamanrasset, the site serves as a focal point for ongoing efforts to address the environmental legacy of atomic testing in the region. Military officials initiated this phase to manage decontamination requirements at the specific facility. This project follows previous efforts to secure areas previously utilized for nuclear experiments. Authorities in Algeria continue to oversee the cleanup process at the site, which remains a subject of concern regarding radiation safety and long-term environmental remediation in the Tamanrasset area.
Accusations of Evading Responsibility
Algerian Ministry of National Defense officials accused France of evading criminal responsibility regarding the environmental aftermath of atomic testing. The ministry stated that French authorities have refused to provide the necessary records and maps detailing the locations of nuclear waste burial sites.
Disagreements persist regarding the exchange of historical data between the two nations. The Algerian Ministry of National Defense formally disputed claims made by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Élysée Palace on 8 September 2026. Those French entities asserted that they had provided President Abdelmadjid Tebboune with detailed information concerning nuclear waste during the 2022 state visit of Emmanuel Macron. Algerian military officials rejected this account, maintaining that the requested documentation remains withheld.
Jean-Marie Collin, director of the French branch of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, urged the French government to end the impasse by releasing the relevant materials. He specifically called for the publication of the file purportedly handed to the Algerian head of state, as well as the release of all maps and data identifying radioactive contamination.
"يتعين على فرنسا التحلي بالشفافية ونشر الملف الذي يُفترض أنها سلّمته إلى الرئيس تبون، إلى جانب جميع الخرائط والمعلومات التي بحوزتها بشأن النفايات المدفونة والمناطق الملوثة إشعاعيًا," Jean-Marie Collin said.
His statement translates to: "France must be transparent and publish the file it supposedly handed to President Tebboune, along with all the maps and information it possesses regarding buried waste and radioactively contaminated areas."
