In the opinion of observers, Algerian diplomacy has entered a difficult phase, especially with the Security Council adopting a resolution on Western Sahara that is in Morocco's favor. Algeria has supported Polisario in its dispute with Rabat over the region for decades. Sabina Heinberg, an expert at the Washington Institute, points out that this diplomacy today faces “many challenges.”
Published on: 07/11/2025 - 19:12
After the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in favor of Morocco in the Western Sahara issue, it seems that Algerian diplomacy has faced a difficult test, adding to the troubled relations with its neighbors and France.
In its resolution, the Security Council considered that “true self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty may represent the ideal solution” to this conflict that has been going on for fifty years, and which came at an American initiative and received the support of Washington in addition to two permanent members of the aforementioned Council, namely France and Britain.
Despite Algeria's opposition, the resolution was adopted last Friday by eleven votes, while China, Russia, and Pakistan, Algeria's main allies, abstained from voting.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said: “Morocco did not succeed in imposing autonomy as an exclusive solution to the Sahrawi issue.”
Read also: What is Morocco’s plan for autonomy in Western Sahara?
"A setback for Algerian diplomacy"
However, “last Friday’s decision represents a setback for Algerian diplomacy,” confirms Sabina Henneberg, an expert at the Washington Institute, pointing to the “many challenges” facing Algeria.
The expert draws attention to "the repercussions of Morocco's efforts on the issue of Western Sahara, which have now begun to bear fruit," and also to "the Russian intervention in the Sahel region, which harmed relations between Moscow and Algeria."
The United Nations considers Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony until 1975, among the "non-self-governing territories" in the absence of a final settlement. It is the only region on the African continent whose status is still pending after the end of colonialism, and is witnessing a conflict between Rabat and the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria.
Algerian diplomacy was famous for its dynamism on the continent and internationally, but it has witnessed a significant decline since President Abdelaziz Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013. At that time, Algeria largely disappeared from the international, regional, Arab and African arena. It later sought to regain its position on the international scene.
Strong relationships built on oil supply
Sabina Henneberg explains: “In recent years, Algeria has demonstrated its desire to play a more active role on the global stage, especially through its election to the UN Security Council” as a non-permanent member, while it has taken “limited steps to deepen its bilateral relationship with the United States.”
Thanks to the war in Ukraine, this country was able to present itself as an alternative to supply natural gas and oil to European countries that seek to reduce their dependence on Russia in terms of energy. Accordingly, it established strong relations, especially with Italy.
On the African level, Algeria signed agreements in February with Nigeria and Niger to accelerate the implementation of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline project.
However, “Algerian diplomatic policy has limits,” says Hosni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World.
An example of this is the failure of Algeria's candidacy to join the BRICS group in the summer of 2023. Abidi explains that "President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received an almost humiliating rejection from Russia," the historical ally that supplies Algeria with most of its weapons.
Read also: The King of Morocco welcomes the Security Council’s decision to support the autonomy plan for Western Sahara and calls on Algeria for dialogue
Calm down with the regional environment
He continues: “There is a major development in international relations,” considering that there is an urgent need to “reset the goals of Algerian foreign policy.”
On the other hand, Morocco, with which Algeria severed diplomatic relations, rejoined the African Union and began imposing its economic power on the continent.
Abidi adds: “Algeria cannot afford to remain in constant disagreement with France,” the former colonial power, pointing to an unprecedented crisis embodied in France’s support for Morocco’s plan regarding Western Sahara.
The country is also required to calm relations with its regional surroundings, especially with Mali, according to Abidi. But the task seems difficult, as Algeria shares more than 1,300 kilometers of border with Mali, which has been facing violence from jihadist groups since 2012.
At the end of March, Algeria shot down a Malian army drone, claiming that it had violated its airspace. In response, Mali and its allies in Niger and Burkina Faso recalled their ambassadors, accusing Algeria of carrying out a “deliberate act of hostility.”
A few weeks later, the three countries announced their desire to "accelerate" the initiative proposed by Morocco to strengthen the connection of their countries to the Atlantic Ocean.
Tensions in relations with the Emirates
The repercussions of this tension have reached the Middle East, where Algeria accuses the United Arab Emirates of financing or supplying weapons to the ruling military junta in Mali.
The Algerian government also accuses the UAE of interfering in Libya, where it supports parties such as Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who is opposed to other parties supported by Algeria.
In addition to this turbulent international context, Hosni Abidi believes that Algeria's foreign policy suffers from the problem of slow decision-making.
He attributes this to "the working mechanism of the Algerian political system is very complex due to the participation of the army, its staff, and the intelligence services in decision-making."
France 24/AFP
Keywords related to the article
The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.
