Govt ruled out reconciliation with Morocco, while French President Macron visited country in bid to mend strained relations. On occasion of newly-instituted National Army Day, army chief of staff, Gen Saïd Chengriha, 4 Aug extolled unity and cohesion between armed forces and Algerians against external threats; new public holiday epitomizes military institution’s growing influence on country’s politics. Authorities 23 Aug detained former interim PM Noureddine Bedoui on corruption charges, making him third ex-premier to face jail on corruption charges since late President Bouteflika resigned in 2019. Govt in August edition of its defence magazine El Djeich said there will be “no peace with Morocco”, citing neighbouring country’s “occupation” of Western Sahara; statement comes after Moroccan King Mohammed VI late July called for Algeria to engage in dialogue to restore “normal [bilateral] relations” one year after Algiers severed diplomatic ties with Rabat. Amid tense relations with European countries, President Tebboune early Aug suggested Algeria may apply to join BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia, Brazil, China, India and South Africa. French President Macron 25-27 Aug visited Algeria for first time since 2017 and met with Tebboune; leaders signed joint declaration calling for “new and irreversible dynamic” in bilateral relationship. In following days, several media outlets reported French energy group Engie and Algerian public oil and gas group Sonatrach nearing agreement for Algeria to increase natural gas exports to France by 50%.

Authorities continued to promote initiatives for political inclusion and national dialogue, but repression of local activists and independent media outlets continued unabated. On occasion of Independence Day, President Tebboune 4 July granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners, including some incarcerated Hirak protest movement activists. Meanwhile, Algiers appeals court 3 July sentenced former presidential candidate Rachid Nekkaz to five-year imprisonment for allegedly inciting unarmed gathering and preventing citizens from exercising voting rights in 2019. Pressure remained high on local media to fall in line with authorities’ position. Journalists at largest French-language daily newspaper El Watan 13-14 July went on strike to protest “non-payment of salaries” for several months, accusing authorities of pressuring public and private companies not to buy advertising space in newspaper, thus jeopardising its existence. Parliament 13 July approved new investment law removing some bureaucratic obstacles to investment and reinforcing guarantees for investors as part of Tebboune’s plan to relaunch and diversify economy away from oil and gas dependence. Israel’s Chief of Staff Aviva Kochavi 18-20 July visited Morocco to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, which Algiers sees as direct threat to its national security. Amid diplomatic crisis about Spanish support of Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Association of Banks and Financial Institutions 28 July announced end of banking restrictions on trade with Spain; Algiers 30 July however denied reversal of trade blockade. Authorities 15 July reopened land border with Tunisia after two-year closure (see Tunisia); 21 July arrested former Tunisian intelligence chief Lazhar Longo – who was sacked by Tunisian President Saïed and placed under house arrest in 2021 – and handed him over to Tunisia.

Relations with Spain continued to deteriorate over Western Sahara, and army conducted exercise near Moroccan border; harassment of journalists persisted. After Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez 8 June confirmed his country’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara before parliament, Algiers same day announced suspension of 2002 friendship and cooperation treaty with Madrid, and 9 June cut off bilateral trade. Spanish govt immediately expressed “regret” at Algiers’ decisions, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell 10 June warned suspension of bilateral trade might violate EU-Algeria partnership agreement and lead to “retaliatory measures”. Army early June conducted live-ammunition night-time exercises in southern Tindouf area near border with Morocco, likely in show of force ahead of U.S.-Morocco annual joint military exercise launched 20 June. Authorities continued to curtail free speech. Algiers courts 7 June sentenced prominent journalist Ihsane El Kadi to six months in prison on charges of “spreading false information”; 13 June sentenced head of Ennahar media group, Mohamed Mokadem, to ten years’ imprisonment on fraud charges. Meanwhile, Algerian, Nigerian and Nigerien energy ministers around 20 June met in Nigeria’s capital Abuja in effort to revive trans-Saharan pipeline project to link Nigeria to Europe through Niger and Algeria.

Govt continued to face accusations of infringing fundamental rights despite appeasement policy toward political opposition. Wave of indignation followed late-April death in prison of Hirak protest movement activist Hakim Debbazi. Debbazi’s family 4 May said they had filed complaint against state for “manslaughter” and “failing to help a person in danger” and were seeking €1bn in compensation. Justice Minister Abderrachid Tabi 17 May said Debbazi had died of “natural causes”. Around 40 Algerian and international NGOs 19 May launched social media campaign against stifling of dissent, urging authorities to cease criminalising free speech and peaceful assembly. President Tebboune 3 May announced plan to hold “inclusive conference” gathering main political parties to find way out of political and social crisis; around 9 May held preliminary talks with several political party leaders. Marginalisation of inner circle of ex-army chief of staff, late Gen Ahmed Gaïd Salah, continued; military appeals court of Blida 12 May confirmed death sentence of Gaïd Salah’s former private secretary Guermit Bounouira on several charges, including “divulgation of confidential information harming the interest of the army and the state”; Bounouira in Jan had accused current army chief of staff, Gen Saïd Chengriha, of drug and arms trafficking. Meanwhile, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov 9 May visited Algiers, praised Algeria’s “neutral” and “objective position” on Ukraine war; also announced reinforcement of bilateral “strategic partnership” and increase in Russian investments in Algeria. General Director of NATO international military staff, Lt Gen Hans-Werner Wiermann, 11-13 May visited Algeria, met with Chengriha, who reaffirmed Algeria’s “neutral policy” on international affairs.

President Tebboune pursued appeasement policy toward political opponents, and tensions continued to run high with Morocco over Western Sahara. Presidency 3 April said Tebboune had pardoned over 1,000 convicts on occasion of Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and ordered provisional release of 70 people detained for links to Hirak protest movement. Political activist and Hirak member Hakim Debbazi 24 April died while in pre-trial detention at Kolea prison in capital Algiers; cause of death unclear. Authorities 29 April arrested leading opposition figure Karim Tabbou on undisclosed charges. Trials of former President Bouteflika-era politicians and businessmen continued. Court 13 April sentenced former PMs Abdelmalek Sellal and Ahmed Ouyahia to five and four years in prison respectively for “squandering of public funds” and “abuse of office for the purpose of granting undue advantages”. Govt 12 April accused Morocco of killing three civilians in 10 April drone strikes in disputed Western Sahara near Mauritanian border; Algerian special envoy for Western Sahara and Maghreb countries, Amar Belani, 14 April denounced “targeted assassinations” and “repeated acts of state terrorism”, warned “possible spillover” of Moroccan “warmongering” into Algerian territory will be considered casus belli (see Western Sahara). Amid deteriorating relations with Spain over Western Sahara, Algiers offered new energy partnership to Italy: state-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach and Italian energy company ENI 11 April signed cooperation agreement in Algiers to increase amount of gas exported from Algeria to Italy. Govt 27 April threatened to suspend gas exports to Spain if Madrid transferred it onward to “a third destination” as latter reportedly set to help Rabat to “guarantee its energy security”. Algiers 7 April voted against resolution suspending Russia from UN Human Rights Council over reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” in Ukraine, arguing UN mechanisms need to inquire on site in Ukraine.

Tensions with Spain ran high over Western Sahara; several encounters reported between military and suspected jihadists. In major policy shift, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez 18 March publicly supported Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. Algiers next day recalled ambassador to Spain for consultations, condemning Madrid’s “abrupt U-turn”; late March said govt will review all agreements with Spain (see Western Sahara). Spain 24 March extradited former soldier and Hirak protest movement militant Mohamed Benhalima to Algeria; Algerian court last year sentenced Benhalima in absentia to ten years in prison on charges of “publishing false information”. Algiers 2 March abstained from voting on UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine and urging Moscow to withdraw troops. U.S. Deputy Sec State Wendy Sherman 10 March met with President Tebboune in capital Algiers; officials reportedly discussed possible U.S. sanctions against Algeria should country continue to buy Russian weapons and possible U.S. investment in Algerian gas sector; U.S. Sec State Antony Blinken 30 March met with Tebboune and FM Ramtane Lamamra in Algiers, urged govt to reconsider ties with Moscow and improve relations with Morocco. Meanwhile in Skikda province (north east), army 16 March captured seven al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) combatants and 19 March killed seven other AQIM militants in security operations in Collo district. Suspected jihadist group 20 March killed three soldiers in Bordj Baji Mokhtar province (south west near Malian border).

Senate elections confirmed dominance of ruling party; dismissal of top presidential aides reflected jockeying for power among state institutions; silencing of dissent continued. Indirect elections for Council of the Nation (Senate) 5 Feb confirmed dominance of ruling party National Liberation Front (FLN) with 62 seats and FLN’s traditional ally National Democratic Rally with 21 seats. Meanwhile, power game between presidency, army and intelligence services intensified. Under pressure from Army Chief of Staff Saïd Chengriha, President Tebboune 8 Feb dismissed close adviser and former intelligence officer Boualem Boualem, who had reportedly been leading anti-Chengriha clan within govt. After at least 40 members of Hirak protest movement imprisoned in capital Algiers’ El-Harrach prison 28 Jan went on hunger strike to denounce “false accusations” against them and “unjustified extensions of pretrial detention”, authorities early Feb transferred prisoners to different prisons; NGO Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights 4 Feb denounced “illegal and arbitrary” transfers aiming to break hunger strike. Authorities 18 Feb arrested Hirak activist Zaki Hannache, 24 Feb charged him with “praising terrorism” and “spreading false news”; 19 Feb arrested rights activist Faleh Hammoudi, next day sentenced him to three years on several charges including “spreading false news”. On occasion of third anniversary of Hirak protest movement, 21 local and international NGOs 22 Feb denounced “escalating repression” threatening “survival of Algerian civil society”. Tebboune 13 Feb froze new taxes introduced by 2022 finance law citing need to “save the people from famine linked to higher prices and food shortages”. Diplomatic tensions with France continued to subside: authorities 17 Feb reopened Algerian airspace to French military planes after four-month closure.

Accusations toward army chief of alleged criminal activities exposed divisions within military, and space for civil society remained restricted. Guermit Bounouira, former private secretary of late Army Chief of Staff Gen Ahmed Gaïd Salah, in videos released from 9 Jan, made series of allegations against military figures, notably accusing current Army Chief of Staff Gen Saïd Chengriha of drug and arms trafficking; military court in Blida province next day sentenced Bounouira, who has been in prison since 2020, to death on several charges including “high treason”. Meanwhile, hundreds of human rights groups, civil society activists and journalists 8 Jan jointly denounced govt’s crackdown on citizen’s constitutional rights, said repression had intensified in recent days with detention of youth movement Rassemblement Actions Jeunesse (RAJ) leaders Nasser Eddine Hamitouche 2 Jan and Hicham Khiat 6 Jan. Court in capital Algiers 9 Jan sentenced opposition party Democratic and Social Movement leader and figure of Hirak protest movement Fethi Ghares to two years in prison on charges of insulting president, disseminating information endangering national unity and state security. NGO National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees 23 Jan recorded 247 “prisoners of conscience” across country. President Tebboune 5 Jan said Algerian ambassador to Paris would return to his post next day, possibly ending three-month diplomatic row. Algeria 11 Jan criticised West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS sanctions on Mali, asked Malian junta to complete transition within 16 months and offered to mediate between both sides.

Ruling party narrowly won regional and local elections, and tensions continued to brew with Morocco over Western Sahara. National Election Authority 22 Dec announced final results of 27 Nov local and regional elections, which President Tebboune framed as final step in renewing politics after former President Bouteflika’s ouster in 2019: ruling party, National Liberation Front, arrived in first position but lost absolute majority in most municipal councils it previously controlled; also narrowly dominated regional assemblies elections; independents achieved good results, while support for Islamist parties lessened. Selection of mayors still pending in several municipalities by month’s end, allegedly due to tensions between local politicians and security forces, who had presented their own candidates in municipal elections. For first time since 2014, trade balance positive with $1bn surplus, though inflation continued to rise. Sahel Intelligence publication, which many Algerians consider close to Moroccan intelligence, 14 Dec alleged Algerian Army Chief of Staff Saïd Chengriha asked for Iranian troop support around Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf area, near border with Western Sahara; Algeria’s Special Envoy for Western Sahara and Maghreb Amar Belani next day denied allegation. League of Arab States late Dec advised all bodies and organisations under its banner to adopt map of Morocco including Western Sahara in official events, prompting Algiers’ ire. Mauritanian President Ould Ghazouani 27-29 Dec visited Algeria in first Mauritanian state visit to neighbouring country for over ten years; Tebboune and Ould Ghazouani 28 Dec signed several cooperation agreements. In bid to “relaunch relationship” after months of tensions, French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian 8 Dec met with Tebboune in capital Algiers, said Algeria was “essential partner for France”.

Tensions with Morocco over Western Sahara conflict continued to run high; parliament voted end of generous state subsidies on basic goods. President Tebboune 3 Nov accused Moroccan forces of killing three Algerian truck drivers in Polisario Front independence movement-controlled Western Sahara 1 Nov; said possible drone attacks “will not go unpunished”. In official letters to inter-national organisations including African Union and UN, Algiers 4 Nov condemned “terrorist act”, stressed Algeria’s “willingness and ability to assume its responsibilities in protecting its citizens and their property in all circumstances”. Morocco did not comment. Meanwhile, around 40 civil society activists 13 Nov met in capital Algiers in bid to relaunch Hirak protest movement, called for liberation of 235 prisoners of conscience. In accordance with 2020 constitutional revision, Tebboune 17 Nov appointed members of new Constitutional Court, notably naming magistrate and former member of parliament’s Upper House Omar Belhadj as president. Campaign for 27 Nov early local elections sparked little public interest, illustrating break between citizens and politicians; turnout low at 35.97%. Meanwhile, lawmakers 17 Nov adopted 2022 Finance Law including direct handouts to eligible families in lieu of state subsidies for basic goods; measure aimed at alleviating state budget deficits in context of historically low oil and gas revenues could, if applied, fuel social tensions and riots.