Debdeb
{{Short description|Border town in Illizi Province, Algeria}}
{{Distinguish|Sebseb}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Debdeb
| official_name =
| native_name = دبدب
| native_name_lang = ar
| type = Commune
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_shield =
| nickname =
| image_map = DZ 33 Debdeb.svg
| mapsize = 150px
| map_caption = Location of Debdeb Commune within Illizi Province
| pushpin_map = Algeria
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Debdeb within Algeria
| coordinates = {{coord|29|58|3|N|9|25|26|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Algeria}}
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Illizi
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = In Amenas
| established_title =
| established_date =
| seat_type = District seat
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_title = PMA Seats
| leader_name = 7
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 31537
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 4341
| population_as_of = 2008
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| timezone1 = CET
| utc_offset1 = +01
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 33220
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| blank_name_sec1 = ONS code
| blank_info_sec1 = 3303
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
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.{{cite web |date=19 December 1984 |title=Décret n° 84–365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya d'El Oued |url=http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1554.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302063136/http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1554.pdf |archivedate=2 March 2013 |accessdate=2 March 2013 |publisher=Journal officiel de la République Algérienne |page=1554 |language=French}} Its postal code is 33220 and its ONS code is 3303.{{cite web |title=Debdeb, Illizi: 33220 |url=https://dza.postcodebase.com/all/33220 |website=Algeria Postcode |access-date=1 June 2025}}
Debdeb lies at an altitude of {{convert|464|m|ft}} 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.{{cite web |title=Carte topographique Debdeb, altitude, relief |url=https://fr-fr.topographic-map.com/map-417p1h/Debdeb/ |website=Cartes topographiques |access-date=1 June 2025 |language=fr}}{{cite web |title=LES UNITÉS SAHARIENNES: Les Compagnies Méharistes Sahariennes |url=https://www.3emegroupedetransport.com/LESUNITESSAHARIENNESA.htm |website=3ème Groupe de Transport |access-date=1 June 2025 |language=fr}}
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.{{cite book |last1=Tinti |first1=Peter |last2=Reitano |first2=Tuesday |title=Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Saviour |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-953-5 |page=150 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Migrant_Refugee_Smuggler_Saviour/LKFfDwAAQBAJ |access-date=2 June 2025 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Reisen |first1=Mirjam Van |title=Enslaved: Trapped and Trafficked in Digital Black Holes |date=21 January 2023 |publisher=African Books Collective |isbn=978-9956-553-72-3 |pages=410–411 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Van_Reisen_Enslaved/HTnaEAAAQBAJ |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Zaptia |first1=Sami |title=After an 8-year closure, Algerian-Libyan Ghadames border crossing to reopen on 12 December |url=https://libyaherald.com/2023/12/after-an-8-year-closure-algerian-libyan-ghadames-border-crossing-to-reopen-on-12-december/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Libya Herald |date=8 December 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Senusi |first1=Ibrahim |title=The Ghadames Debdeb Libya Algeria border crossing to be developed before its reopening |url=https://libyaherald.com/2023/08/the-ghadames-debdeb-libya-algeria-border-crossing-to-be-developed-before-its-reopening/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Libya Herald |date=8 August 2023}}
Climate
Debdeb has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with extremely hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.{{cite web|title=Climate data for: Debdeb|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/361687/|website=Climate-Data.org|accessdate=21 May 2013}}
{{Weather box
| location = Debdeb
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| width = auto
| Jan high C = 17.9
| Feb high C = 20.7
| Mar high C = 25.7
| Apr high C = 31.5
| May high C = 36.0
| Jun high C = 41.5
| Jul high C = 42.6
| Aug high C = 41.6
| Sep high C = 38.2
| Oct high C = 31.9
| Nov high C = 24.3
| Dec high C = 18.9
| Jan mean C = 10.4
| Feb mean C = 12.7
| Mar mean C = 17.0
| Apr mean C = 22.3
| May mean C = 27.2
| Jun mean C = 32.0
| Jul mean C = 32.5
| Aug mean C = 32.0
| Sep mean C = 29.0
| Oct mean C = 23.4
| Nov mean C = 16.8
| Dec mean C = 11.7
| Jan low C = 2.9
| Feb low C = 4.8
| Mar low C = 8.4
| Apr low C = 13.2
| May low C = 18.5
| Jun low C = 22.5
| Jul low C = 22.4
| Aug low C = 22.4
| Sep low C = 19.8
| Oct low C = 15.0
| Nov low C = 9.4
| Dec low C = 4.5
| Jan precipitation mm = 4
| Feb precipitation mm = 4
| Mar precipitation mm = 6
| Apr precipitation mm = 4
| May precipitation mm = 2
| Jun precipitation mm = 1
| Jul precipitation mm = 0
| Aug precipitation mm = 0
| Sep precipitation mm = 1
| Oct precipitation mm = 2
| Nov precipitation mm = 3
| Dec precipitation mm = 3
| date=May 2013
}}
Demographics
The 2008 census recorded a population of 4,341 in Debdeb, up from 3,212 in 1998, and an annual population growth rate of 3.1%--the lowest in the province.{{cite web |title=Population: Illizi Wilaya |url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w30_p1.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513142728/http://www.ons.dz/collections/w30_p1.pdf |archivedate=13 May 2013 |accessdate=24 February 2013 |publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie |language=French}}{{cite web |title=Algeria Communes |url=http://www.statoids.com/ydz.html |accessdate=8 March 2013 |publisher=Statoids}}
Education
In 2011, 4.0% of the population had a tertiary education, while another 13.2% had completed secondary education.{{cite web|title=Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence.|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w33_p6.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|accessdate=13 February 2013|language=French|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113185016/http://www.ons.dz/collections/w33_p6.pdf|archivedate=13 November 2011}} The overall literacy rate was 71.8%: 79.9% among males and 63.0% among females.{{cite web|title=Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence .|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w33_p10.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|accessdate=21 May 2013|language=French|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113193000/http://www.ons.dz/collections/w33_p10.pdf|archivedate=13 November 2011}}
Transportation
Debdeb is on the N53 national highway, which leads north to the Libyan town of Ghadames and south to In Amenas.{{cite web |title=Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – Timissit Exploration Project (Block 210) Algeria |date=July 2015 |publisher=Equinor |url=https://www.equinor.com/content/dam/statoil/documents/impact-assessment/Statoil-Environmental%20and%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment-Timissit%20Exploration%20Project%20(Block%20210)%20Algeria-July%202015.pdf |access-date=1 June 2025 |pages=x–xi}}
References
{{Portal|Algeria}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Clear}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Debdeb
|North = El Borma (Ouargla)
Merixen
|South = Ohanet
In Amenas
Illizi
|Southwest = Bordj Omar Driss
|West = Gassi Touil
El Goléa (Ghardaïa)
|Northwest = Ouargla
Hassi Messaoud (Ouargla)
}}
{{Illizi Province}}