After several years of hardline pro-separatism diplomacy- marked by ambassador recalls, airspace closures, weaponized gas sales, suspended cooperation and sharp public statements- Algeria is softening its tone trying to mitigate damages through a more pragmatic approach.
A series of recent moves with France, Spain and Niger, alongside tentative outreach to Mali, signal a recalibration away from diplomatic and economic blackmail which has backfired at an increasingly isolated Algeria, both at the regional and international levels.
The new Algerian position toward negotiated, often costly, arrangements, is the result of necessity. The change suggests not just tactical adjustments but a broader rethink of how military-run Algiers wants to position itself.
The most revealing episode concerns France. When Paris decided to back Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara, Algeria responded immediately: it recalled its ambassador, froze aspects of security cooperation, arrested a French novelist and a French journalist and hardened its rhetoric.
French Interior minister was received in Algiers, and sensitive files, including security, migration and returns of unwanted migrants are back on the table.
During a visit on February 16–17, 2026, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said both sides would “significantly improve” police and judicial cooperation and accelerate the readmission of Algerian nationals, with implementation “as soon as possible.”
France is now imposing its terms on Algeria while maintaining its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory and support for the autonomy plan, which gained the backing of the UN Security Council last year.
A similar pattern unfolded with Spain. After Madrid backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, Algeria recalled its ambassador, froze the friendship treaty and announced economic pressure. Over time, however, trade flows resumed and diplomatic contacts were restored, softening the initial rupture. Spain did so without altering its pro-Morocco stand on the Sahara issue.
In the Sahel, policy has also shifted. Following tensions with Niger after the 2023 change of power in Niamey, the two countries announced on February 12, 2026, the return of their ambassadors. Days later, Niger’s leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, visited Algiers and outlined Algerian commitments, including at least €50 million in funding for social projects.
Relations with Mali remain more strained. Disagreements over armed groups in northern Mali and the implementation of the Algiers Accords have led Bamako to question Algeria’s mediation. Any reset would require not only resources but also a clearer doctrine on regional security and political engagement.
Taken together, these moves indicate the unpredictability and erratic character of Algerian diplomacy. It also signals that Algeria is attempting to minimize damage from its pro-separatist diplomacy that put it at the center stage as a party to the conflict, at a context of growing global momentum in favour of Morocco’s autonomy plan.
