The Russian veto that blocked a US-backed UN Security Council resolution on the Sahara issue on 30 October is being interpreted as evidence of Algeria’s growing dependence on Moscow.
In a commentary published on 3 November, French Africanist historian Bernard Lugan argued that the veto amounted to a “receipt” for services rendered.
According to Lugan, Russia had previously signaled its displeasure with Algiers by blocking its bid to join the BRICS group and by abstaining on the key 2025 Security Council resolution (2797) that placed Morocco’s autonomy plan at the center of negotiations.
Faced with these warnings, Algeria realigned its Sahel policy, distancing itself from Tuareg groups it had long supported and moving closer to the Russian-backed military regimes in the region.
The veto, Lugan wrote, was Moscow’s way of settling that account rather than a demonstration of Algerian influence.
Lugan stressed that the vote itself underlined Algeria’s isolation with 11 Council members supported the US draft, while the Russian alternative obtained only three votes.
The diplomatic fallout has been accompanied by sharp and almost hysterical rhetoric from Algiers.