On October 9, 2025, the New Lines Institute published an article by Ty Dávila titled “U.S. Engagement With Algeria’s Tuareg Is a Strategic Imperative.” Beneath a veneer of cooperation and goodwill, the article reveals a clear attempt to interfere in Algeria’s internal affairs, particularly in its Saharan regions inhabited by Tuareg communities. Analyzing the document, its author, and its institutional context highlights a U.S. strategy aimed at influencing Algerian policy to serve American geopolitical interests.
Interference Under the Guise of Development
The article proposes three areas of intervention: participatory research, localized aid, and engagement with the Tuareg diaspora. Though presented as alternatives to military involvement, these measures are in fact a soft form of penetration into Algeria’s social and political structures. By targeting marginalized communities, the United States seeks to establish internal channels of influence capable of shaping national policy.
This approach deliberately overlooks the efforts already made by the Algerian state to integrate the Tuareg into republican institutions. The example of El Hadj Mussa, a parliamentarian from the Tuareg nobility, illustrates Algeria’s commitment to inclusion without foreign interference. The abolition of the amenokal system in 1977 was not a violent suppression but a republican adaptation to a transforming society.
Exploiting Local Vulnerabilities
The article emphasizes poverty, unemployment, and exclusion in southern regions. While these issues are indeed concerning, they do not justify foreign intervention. They fall under the sovereign responsibility of the Algerian state, which has initiated structural reforms and investments in border areas. American interference, under the pretense of addressing these gaps, is in reality an attempt to establish a foothold in a strategic region rich in hydrocarbons and mineral resources.
A Logic of Geopolitical Competition
The author openly states that the goal is to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in North Africa. Algeria, a historical partner of Moscow, is now being courted by Washington in a power struggle. The appointment of Russian General Sergey Surovikin as a military advisor in Algeria is portrayed as a threat, although it is part of a sovereign bilateral cooperation.
Algeria refuses to become a playground for foreign powers. It has consistently defended a policy of non-alignment and respect for state sovereignty. American attempts to interfere in internal dynamics under the guise of preventing instability reflect a disguised neocolonial strategy.
The Role of the New Lines Institute: A Strategic Front
Ty Dávila’s report was published by the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a Washington D.C.–based think tank founded in 2019 by Dr. Ahmed Alwani. The institute specializes in geopolitics and U.S. foreign policy, with a particular focus on Muslim societies and regions in the Middle East and North Africa.
The New Lines Institute is closely connected to American decision-making circles. Many of its members are former senior officials or government advisors. It is known for influential reports, such as the one on the treatment of Uyghurs in China, which served as a primary source for the Uyghur Tribunal’s genocide designation. This precedent demonstrates the think tank’s ability to shape international discourse and influence major diplomatic decisions.
Thus, it is not merely an academic observer but a strategic actor actively involved in constructing American geopolitical narratives, often in favor of intervention or diplomatic repositioning in regions deemed sensitive to U.S. interests.
Conclusion: Preserving Algerian Sovereignty
Ty Dávila’s article, despite its diplomatic tone, clearly reveals the United States’ intent to influence Algeria’s political direction by exploiting local vulnerabilities. This strategy is far from neutral and fits into a broader logic of geopolitical competition in which Algeria is pressured to choose sides.
In the face of such pressure, Algeria must remain true to its principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and regional solidarity. The development of southern regions must be led by Algerians, for Algerians, without foreign interference. Any attempt at manipulation or disguised pressure must be firmly rejected to safeguard the country’s political independence and national cohesion.
By Belgacem Merbah
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