Has Algeria rewritten its military doctrine?

Algeria’s deployment of combat aircraft to Niger on August 31 marks a break from its traditional non-interventionist military doctrine. According to analysts at TV5MONDE, this could signal a shift toward a more muscular foreign policy.

The deployment of combat aircraft to Niger was ordered by the Algerian president, following a thwarted military uprising in Niamey between August 28 and 29. Mutinous Malian soldiers seized control of Air Base 101 at Diori Hamani International Airport. Eventually, government forces, backed by Russian Africa Corps paramilitary personnel, regained control. In response, Algiers dispatched four Sukhoi Su-30 fighter-bombers, an Ilyushin Il-76 transport, and an Il-78 aerial refuelling plane. 

According to defence analysts and TV5MONDE editorialist Slimane Zeghidour, this deployment constitutes a profound “intellectual revolution” in Algerian foreign and security policy. Since independence, the Algerian military has strictly adhered to a dogma prohibiting military interventions outside national territory. This non-interference policy is rooted in Algeria’s anti-colonial history and a constitutional commitment to national sovereignty. Historically, Algiers managed Sahel instability through diplomatic mediation and political brokering. This was reflected by hosting inter-Malian peace negotiations and authoring the 2015 Algiers Accord. By deploying a combat-ready aerial unit into a volatile neighbour, Algiers could be in the process of redefining its national security perimeter. This could mean that defending the state now begins beyond its borders.

This pivot is driven by the current volatility of the Sahel region, which directly threatens to ripple across Algeria’s borders, TV5MONDE reports. Not only is the Sahel region made up of weak states, but they are also governed by military regimes that rely on external powers. These include superpowers such as Russia and China, as well as regional actors such as Iran and Israel. Amid this growing foreign competition, Algiers sees rising security risks.

As military regimes tighten their grip across the Sahel, a new Algerian doctrine could transform its foreign policy from mediation to direct military and economic projection. However, whether Algeria’s recent deployment of combat aircraft suggests a permanent doctrine shift or a temporary tactical measure remains to be seen.

TV5MONDE, Maghrebi.org.