Algeria’s Military Regime: Emergency Moscow Meetings After Assad’s Fall
| Algiers Seeks to Shield Itself From International Scrutiny and Sanctions Over an Imminent Horrific Strategic Deflection Plan Aimed at Securing Its Regime’s Survival by Offering Russia a Role to Fill the Void Left by Syria, Sahel Access to Critical Minerals, and the Repurposing of Militias and Weapons |
With the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, the military regime of Algiers has sent envoys for consultations in Moscow. These high-level meetings, while shrouded in secrecy, underscore a pivotal moment for Algeria as it grapples with the repercussions of Assad’s downfall and seeks to secure its own regime’s survival.
Abdelkader Bensalah during his meeting with Vladimir Putin in 2019:
“I’ve come to tell you and reassure you that the situation is under control”
Damage Control and Assessment:
The fall of Assad has created immediate tactical problems for Algiers. Sources suggest that between 300-500 Algerian soldiers and Polisario milicias were deployed in Syria to support the Assad regime. The primary objective of the Moscow meetings is to discuss practicalities of their extraction, after the retreat of Russia from ports and airports. The Military Regime of Algiers is also anxious about any potential compromise of intelligence. The fall of Damascus has led to the exposure of vast amounts of sensitive information. Revolutionaries who entered key government facilities uncovered a treasure trove of intelligence, including defense documents, ministerial communications, and records of covert operations. The discovery of these sensitive documents within Assad’s palace and the Syrian internal intelligence services, is terrorizing the Algerian military. This scramble highlights the Algerian regime’s ill-preparedness for Assad’s sudden downfall and their potentially compromised intelligence network. Contact with Assad himself was reportedly lost on December 7th, adding urgency to the Moscow meetings to reestablish this connection with the Algerian military and coordinating a unified propaganda narrative.
Strategic Realignment:
Beyond immediate damage control, the meetings signify a broader strategic realignment for Algeria. The demise of Assad serves as a stark warning. Algiers, facing increasing pressure from Western powers, including scrutiny from NATO, the European Parliament, and the potential return of a more hawkish US administration led by Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who wanted sanctions against Algeria for buying Russian weapons, is likely seeking assurances and support from its long-time ally, Russia. The regime views the fall of Assad as a potential precursor to its own downfall and is actively seeking Russian support for its survival. Moscow’s veto power in the UN Security Council and its willingness to defy Western sanctions make it a crucial partner for a regime fearing international isolation, particularly as Algeria, like Iran, is considered a major authoritarian power in the MENA region. This trip is therefore a strong signal that Algiers is not backing back from its confrontation with Morocco and France.
A Quid Pro Quo in the Sahel and Subterranean Africa:
In exchange for this protection, Algeria appears ready to offer Russia substantial concessions in the Sahel region. Sources suggest Algeria may grant access to Algerian ports and airports, effectively filling the logistical void left by Russia’s withdrawal from Syrian ports and airports. This would allow Russia to maintain influence in Africa and support the Wagner Group’s operations, particularly its access to crucial mineral resources used in the Russian weapons industry. This access also allows Moscow to continue fueling instability in the region, further undermining Western influence, particularly France. This potential deal underscores Algeria’s desperation to maintain the status quo and avoid the fate of Assad.
Strategic Deflection and Domestic Narrative Control:
The specter of the Syrian revolution has resonated deeply within Algeria, drawing parallels to the 2019 Hirak movement. The regime is acutely aware of this parallel and is likely seeking to control the domestic narrative. This could involve staged events, similar to the 2021 forest fires that diverted attention from the COVID-19 crisis. The regime might orchestrate a false flag coup against President Tebboune or force him to resign, triggering a state of emergency and consolidating power. Alternatively, they could manufacture a crisis reminiscent of the “Black Decade” using controlled militias or infiltrated groups such as the GIA, escalating tensions with Morocco under Russia’s protective umbrella at the UN Security Council. The meetings in Moscow are crucial for the regime to secure these international guarantees, particularly in the UN Security Council, to shield itself from sanctions and maintain its grip on power. By offering Russia access to central Africa through Algerian ports and military airports, the regime demonstrates its willingness to offer fill-in the void left by Syria, and allow Russia a strategic redeployment in Africa, for the sake of its survival.
The Algerian military regime: 5 war criminals
The Algerian military regime, consisting of war criminals Mohamed Mediene (alias Toufik), Saïd Chengriha, Abdelkader Haddad, Hamid Oublaïd, and Djebbar Mehenna, is prepared to sacrifice everything to ensure their own survival and hold on to power.
Algiers Seeks to Shield Itself From International Scrutiny and Sanctions Over an Imminent Horrific Strategic Deflection Plan Aimed at Securing Its Regime’s Survival by Offering Russia a Role to Fill the Void Left by Syria, Sahel Access to Critical Minerals, and the Repurposing of Militias and Weapons