Algeria’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates has been described by an Algerian international relations expert as part of a broader regional dispute involving the Sahel, Libya and North Africa.
Smail Debeche, a professor of international relations at the University of Algiers III, said the breakdown in relations was linked to what he described as UAE activities that Algeria considers hostile to its regional interests.
Algeria announced the diplomatic break on Thursday through a statement from its Foreign Ministry, which was carried by state media.
The ministry did not identify one specific incident as the reason for the decision. Instead, it accused the UAE of engaging in what it described as “provocative and hostile actions” and referred to other conduct as “regrettable and unjustified.”
According to the ministry, Algeria had made several efforts to maintain bilateral relations before eventually deciding to end diplomatic ties.
Debeche said tensions between the two countries extend beyond their bilateral relationship. He specifically pointed to developments in the Sahel region and Libya as areas where the interests of Algiers and Abu Dhabi have increasingly come into conflict.
The professor also cited recent UAE media coverage of wildfires in Algeria as another indication of what he described as deteriorating relations between the two countries.
Despite the diplomatic rupture, Debeche said Algeria and the UAE should continue looking for opportunities for dialogue.
He argued that both countries are members of the Arab League and should therefore seek a way to maintain at least a basic level of cooperation within the organisation.
The diplomatic dispute adds another layer to the complex political and security dynamics unfolding across North Africa, the Sahel and Libya.
