ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

The images emerging from Bamako over the past 24 hours are striking — empty streets, long lines before shuttered petrol stations, silent motorcycles, and weary faces drained by heat and frustration. The city feels suspended, as if the country itself were holding its breath. Behind the military authorities’ silence lies an undeniable truth: the fuel shortage is worsening, day after day, exposing the deep incapacity of the junta that has seized power to guarantee the supply of one of the country’s most vital resources — fuel — essential to both the economy and daily life. A Country Held Hostage by Its Leaders Who could have imagined that in 2025, traveling just 20 kilometers outside Bamako could cost one’s life? Such is the tragic reality of a nation taken hostage by a military leadership trapped in propaganda and denial, entirely detached from the suffering of its people. There is no security, no electricity, no fuel — and soon, perhaps, not even enough food, in a country that depends ...

On August 1, 2025, Mali’s transitional military council announced with great fanfare the release of four Moroccan truck drivers who had been held by the so‑called Islamic State in the “three borders” region. At first glance, this might seem like an impressive security achievement. Yet behind the glittering façade lies a far more dangerous reality: a shady political‑security deal that has breathed new life into a terrorist organization, while exposing Morocco as a double‑faced actor — publicly claiming to fight terrorism while fueling it through illicit channels, foremost among them the drug trade. A Deal at the Expense of Regional Security Multiple consistent sources confirm that this was no heroic rescue, as Bamako portrayed it, but rather a full‑blown deal: the release of high‑ranking ISIS field commanders — such as Dadi Ould Cheib, known as “Abu Darda,” and Ammiya Ould el‑Bakkay — in exchange for handing over the Moroccan hostages, along with a substantial ransom payment. These two ...

After four controversial years marked by abuses and repeated security failures, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner has packed up and left Mali. This sudden withdrawal comes in the wake of intense diplomatic and security pressure from Algeria, which reasserts its role as a key regional power and a pillar of stability in the Sahel.   The Weight of Algerian Diplomacy Since Wagner’s arrival in Mali in 2021, Algeria has consistently and firmly denounced the presence of foreign mercenaries in a region it deems vital to its own national security. Algiers has made it clear that it categorically rejects the transformation of the Sahel into a playground for foreign powers and private military firms. According to Akram Kharief, a defense expert and founder of Menadefense, Moscow’s decision to recall Wagner was directly linked to the deterioration of Algerian-Russian relations on the matter, as well as the debacle in Tinzaouatène in July 2024 — a military failure that laid bare Wagner’s tac...

For several days now, the media and diplomatic landscape of the Sahel has been roiled by a series of flamboyant statements, the most resounding of which came from former Malian Prime Minister Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maïga. In a speech dated April 9, 2025, he launched a scathing attack against Algeria, accusing it of duplicity in its Sahel policy. But what is this tirade really worth, if not a carefully orchestrated distraction? More importantly, who is pulling the strings behind this African stage play? One truth stands out: those who rail against Algiers are, whether knowingly or not, serving the agendas of powers that have never relinquished their grip on the continent. A Moroccan Attempt to Rewrite African History For several years now, Morocco has been relentlessly active on the African diplomatic front, seeking to portray itself as a benevolent and selfless power. But beneath the polished rhetoric of South-South cooperation and continental integration lies a cold, calculated strateg...

 The recent diplomatic flare-up between Mali and Algeria is far more than a mere border dispute or an isolated military incident. At its core lies a deeper and more strategic struggle—one that revolves around the future of energy in the Sahel and West Africa. The competing visions for this future are embodied in two massive projects: the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), championed by Algeria, and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline. A Crisis That Reveals Regional Fractures In early April 2025, Algeria issued a firm diplomatic note condemning Mali's "baseless allegations" after the Algerian military shot down a Malian drone that had allegedly violated Algerian airspace for the third time since August 2024. Algeria, citing radar evidence, maintained that its response was both measured and necessary. Bamako’s reaction, however, was not limited to protesting the drone incident. The Malian transitional government accused Algeria of colluding with terrorist groups—a ...

Early April 2025: Algerian Forces Shoot Down Malian Bayraktar Drone—A Strategic Shockwave Across the Sahel-Maghreb Region In early April 2025, an aerial incident involving a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci drone operated by the Malian army sent shockwaves through the Sahel and Maghreb regions. The drone reportedly breached Algerian airspace by two kilometers before being shot down by Algerian armed forces in under 26 seconds. This brief timeframe was enough to underscore a sharp strategic reality: Algeria's clear technological and operational superiority in aerial warfare and counter-drone systems. 1. Algeria: A Clear Message, A Proven Capability In an official statement issued on April 3, 2025, Algeria's Ministry of National Defence announced that its air defense units had detected, identified, and destroyed a foreign drone that violated national airspace near Bordj Badji Mokhtar. The aircraft, identified as a Turkish Akinci operated by Malian forces, was reportedly downed le...

In an official statement published on its Facebook page and website, Algeria’s Ministry of National Defense announced that it had shot down a Malian Akıncı drone over Tinzawatin, after it breached Algerian airspace by two kilometers. This marks the first time that the Algerian Air Force has downed a foreign drone, sending a clear and decisive message to nations that have been misusing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near Algeria’s borders. A Swift and Controlled Response The detection and interception of the drone were carried out by a unit under the Air Defense Forces Command (ADFC) , demonstrating Algeria’s high level of preparedness and rapid response capabilities in safeguarding its airspace. While the ministry did not disclose the exact method used to neutralize the drone, analysts suggest that Algeria likely employed its advanced air defense systems , which are capable of effectively countering such aerial threats. The Growing Presence of Drones in the Sahel and North Africa ...

Relations between Algeria and Mali have experienced unprecedented tensions since 2023. Once considered exemplary, especially through the Algiers Peace Agreement of 2015, the bilateral relationship took a dramatic turn following Algeria’s reception of Imam Mahmoud Dicko, a staunch opponent of Mali’s ruling junta. The Malian authorities viewed this as a provocative and unwarranted interference in their internal affairs, leading to retaliatory measures such as recalling their ambassador from Algiers and canceling the Algiers Agreement. Tensions escalated further with Russia’s growing military presence in Mali through the Wagner Group, which Algeria has viewed with suspicion, particularly near its borders. Amid this crisis, Morocco played a significant role in exacerbating tensions, using the opportunity to strengthen its ties with Bamako and positioning itself as an alternative strategic partner to Algeria. Additionally, Moroccan drug trafficking networks have continued to fuel terrorist ...

Algeria, often seen as a discreet yet influential player on the global stage, is now reaping the benefits of a well-calculated geopolitical strategy based on independence, regional influence, and diversified partnerships . While France faces increasing marginalization in Europe and Africa, and alliances in the Sahel begin to fracture, Algeria is solidifying its position as a key regional power . Recent developments— Mali’s diplomatic U-turn towards Algeria , France’s strategic missteps , and the exclusion of Europe from US-Russia discussions on Ukraine —all illustrate how Algiers’ commitment to pragmatism, sovereignty, and multilateralism is paying off in the long run. Mali Reconciles with Algeria: A Diplomatic Triumph One of the clearest signs of Algeria’s diplomatic success is Mali’s recent decision to restore high-level relations with Algeria by sending an ambassador to Algiers , signaling an attempt to de-escalate tensions that had emerged in recent months. 🔹 Morocco’s Attem...

Relations between Algeria and Mali are currently experiencing a period of heightened tensions, marked by mutual accusations and deep disagreements over the management of security crises in the Sahel. This situation reflects not only bilateral disputes but also the geopolitical and strategic challenges affecting the entire region. Context and Escalation of Tensions On January 1, 2025, Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement accusing Algeria of supporting terrorist groups and interfering in its internal affairs. These allegations followed remarks by Algeria’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, who opposed the categorization of political movements, signatories of the 2015 Algiers Peace Accord, as terrorist groups. The Malian government, led by a military junta that came to power through the May 2021 coup, dismissed these statements as "unnecessary lessons" and accused Algeria of complicity with destabilizing actors in the Sahel. This war of words takes place in the con...