On the Ukraine front, Algiers voted at the UN to condemn Russia’s invasion, angering Moscow. [Getty]
Algeria and Russia, long-time allies, are scrambling to patch up ties after months of tension over the Sahel, Libya, and military presence in North Africa.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of Russia’s State Duma, is scheduled to visit Algiers in the coming weeks, marking his second trip to the North African nation in six months, reported local media.
The visit comes after Wagner Group airstrikes near Algeria’s southern border with Mali in April, which prompted Algeria to ask for the UN intervention.
Last month, the Algeria-Russia Friendship Parliamentary Group met in Algiers to discuss strengthening relations. “Our interests in Sudan, Syria, and energy overlap, but we need clearer dialogue,” said Abdelsalam Bachagha.
This diplomatic push follows months of tensions, fuelled by Russia’s military footprint in North Africa.
At the heart of Algeria’s concerns lies the Wagner Group. Russia’s paramilitary forces have become entrenched in Mali after French troops were ousted in 2022.
Last February, Algeria’s permanent representative to the UN, called for international accountability for the parties responsible for a deadly a drone attack that struck civilians in the Tinzaouatene region of Mali, just meters from the Mali-Algeria border.
It was reportedly orchestrated by Malian army and Wagner Group against Tuareg “terrorists.”
The Tuareg are an ethnic group who have been fighting for independence since 2012.
Algeria has been vocal in opposing Moscow’s attempts to brand Tuareg political movements as “terrorists” warning that further military action in Mali would only destabilise the region.
“We told our Russian friends that we will not accept the rebranding of Tuareg political movements as terrorist groups to justify further military action in northern Mali,” Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf told state media.
“Military solutions have always failed,” added Attaf stating his country’s expertise in the Sahel.
The North African state is also worried about the escalating situation in Libya, its eastern neighbour—another country where Wagner is reportedly active.
Moscow is backing Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have targeted Algerian border crossings.
The Wagner Group has had a foothold in Libya since 2018.
Miloud Ould Essedik, a political analyst, suggests the tensions go deeper. “In addition to supporting Tuareg, Algeria’s role in supplying natural gas to Europe amid the Ukraine war has irked Moscow,” he said.
Historical accords and discord between Algeria and Russia
Algeria and Russia’s cooperation dates back to the Soviet era, when the USSR supported Algeria’s independence movement and became a major arms supplier. In 2001, they signed a “Strategic Partnership Agreement,” Russia’s first of its kind in the region.
However, cooperation has not been without its challenges. Competition over gas exports to Europe has created friction, and Algeria’s refusal to join a Russia-led gas cartel proves that the North African state wanted to maintain its own autonomy instead of committing to one camp.
The Algerian “neutrality” diplomacy has often clashed with Russia’s.
In Libya, the two countries are on opposing sides: Russia backs Haftar, while Algeria supports the UN-backed government in Tripoli. On the Ukraine front, Algiers voted at the UN to condemn Russia’s invasion, angering Moscow.
Despite this, Algiers has remained resolute in its support for Russia, resisting Western pressure to isolate Moscow.
Meanwhile, arms trade and defence collaboration continue to serve as the cornerstone of their bilateral relations.
The two countries are set to sign a proposed $12-$17 billion arms deal, including advanced fighters, submarines, and air defence systems, according to local media.
Despite these frictions, both sides seem determined to repair their relationship. Diplomatic visits have increased, with Russian officials—including Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov—visiting Algiers last year. Algeria has reciprocated with high-level trips to Moscow.
The two nations have also created a formal mechanism for quarterly consultations involving officials from both sides on foreign policy, security, and defence.
