Algeria took the decision to shut down its land borders in order to "preserve the security and stability given the serious security issues in some neighboring countries," Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said as reported by state news agency APS.
The prime minister was speaking during a meeting with civil society of the province of Tamanrasset on Thursday night. Asked about concerns of shopkeepers about the decline in their business following the closure of the land borders with Niger, Sellal said that "we are very aware that the closing of borders caused a decline in business and tourist activities, but in the interest of preserving security and stability, we must take this decision." 
 He added that "the difficulties that our neighboring countries encounter led us to take measures to preserve the security and stability of our country." These measures are "in the interest of the country and the Algerian nation," Sellal said, adding that "dangerous terrorist groups operate in some neighboring countries, in addition to the covetousness of other countries," and based on that, "it is necessary to accept some pressures and not to neglect our security which is among the top priorities of the country." 

Source: QNA