Algeria deploys all-out diplomacy to catch up with the Bouteflika era
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, March 20, 2020. AFP - ODD ANDERSEN
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5 mins
Ramtane Lamamra, the very experienced and very active head of Algerian diplomacy, announced Thursday, September 9 the cancellation of the debt of 14 African countries, for a sum of nearly one billion dollars.
This gesture of diplomatic rapprochement is described by Algiers as a gesture for a "
united world
".
Algeria, moreover, does not name these countries.
This initiative is added to others, undertaken by Algeria to recover its influence of yesteryear.
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Algerian diplomacy must regain a certain influence to "
consolidate its role as a middle power
".
According to the Algerian presidency, Algeria must be "
capable of taking initiatives on major regional and international issues
".
A vision implemented by the head of Algerian diplomacy who multiplies trips to Africa.
In Niger, he discussed with President Bazoum “
the common work to preserve peace and security in Africa
”.
There was also talk of reactivating the security agreement signed in 2018 between Niger, Libya, Chad and Sudan.
Ramtane Lamamra was also in Mauritania to invite President Ghazouani to Algiers.
Last week, the foreign ministers of Libya's neighboring countries all met in Algiers to discuss the stabilization of that country.
This mechanism of neighboring countries stopped since January 2020 was relaunched by Algiers to defend a way out of the Libyan crisis away from any interference.
Lamamra has also been involved as a mediator in Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam conflict and has visited Tunisia three times since July 24.
Algiers expands its foreign ministry
On Monday, to boost its diplomatic action, Algeria created seven posts of special envoys, including one in charge of the question of Western Sahara and the Maghreb, and the other of African questions, and in particular the geostrategy of the Sahelo-Saharan area and the chairmanship of the monitoring committee for the application of the Algiers agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali.
These appointments reflect the interests and priorities of Algeria.
These appointments were accompanied by a large movement within the diplomatic corps: 70 new ambassadors were appointed, including young people, women, and former senior officials including some former ministers.
In the absence of Libyan diplomacy since the fall of the former regime in 2011, as well as of Algeria since 2014, Morocco has taken advantage of this vacuum and tried to invest it especially at the level of the African continent.
Interview with Hasni Abidi, political scientist specializing in Arab countries and the Maghreb
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Algeria
Diplomacy