Why Algeria’s diplomacy is in decline
Algeria’s voice internationally has become inaudible as men in uniform steer an Algerian diplomacy in disarray, suffering a series of setbacks in recent years that deepened the country’s isolation regionally and globally.
Since 2019 when general Chengriha took power- ruling behind a thin civilian curtain represented by civilian President Tebboune- a “new Algeria” was declared intent on returning to the global and regional stage as an agenda setter.
Four years later, Algeria has become even more isolated than it was under Bouteflika sowing diplomatic crisis with all its neighbors save Tunisia, a cash-strapped drowning state that clutches to the Algerian straw.
Tebboune has offered mediation in the Nile dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia but was ignored by both parties. He then said Algeria would mediate between Russia and Ukraine during a visit where he uttered blunders describing Putin as a friend of humanity.
Algeria claimed to have helped Palestinian factions reach a deal that has no impact nor significance on the real state of affairs in Palestine.
It also worsened the infighting in Libya by backing the Tripoli government against the Haftar camp, leading to a sidelining of Algiers in the Libyan reconciliation effort.
The most resounding setback was when Tebboune promised to join the BRICS, which ended up reducing Algeria to its real size of an oil and gas dependent country that represents an excellent example of the resource curse.
Tebboune had promised to champion the separatist Polisario cause. Soon after, the US recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, followed by support for Morocco’s autonomy plan by major powers such as Spain with dozens of consulates opened in the Sahara territory.
In the Sahel, Mali has de-facto cut ties with Algiers whom it accuses of stoking terrorism in the region, while Niger has rejected a mediation attempt after the military coup.
With its closest European economic partners, Algeria tried to weaponize gas exports but failed to pressure Spain into changing its pro-Morocco stance on the Sahara and has also failed to start a new page with Paris, despite President Macron’s Algerian tropism.
The US will send ambassador Jushua Harris who chose Algeria as an interlocutor over the Sahara issue, showing its real role as the party perpetuating the conflict over Morocco’s southern provinces. Washington has also taken note of Tebboune’s punching above his country’s weight when he suggested to Putin Algeria’s intention to contribute to weakening the dollar in international trade.
Although the Algerian president described Russia as Algeria’s “protector,” Moscow continues to view Algeria as a client rather than a partner or ally. Russia exports the bulk of Algerian weaponry and looks with great suspicion at Algeria’s stand against the growing Russian influence in the Sahel and Libya.
With the Arab state, the Arab League summit in late 2022 showed the derisory role of Algiers in the region and its lack of credibility due to its proximity to Iran and alignment with Syria’s Bashar Assad.
Observers see in Algeria’s diplomatic debacle a symptom of a diplomacy that has been hijacked by military rulers who are blinded by a desire to unsettle Morocco.
A country that failed to have normal ties- not to say good ties- with most of its immediate neighbors is ill-positioned to mediate elsewhere or join international grouping such as the BRICS.
