Algeria’s Response to Moroccan-American Military Exercise: Analysis and Insights

2023-06-02 22:50:45

A few days before the opening ceremony of the 19^th edition of African Lion in Morocco, the Algerian President, Abdelmajid Tebboune, brought together his generals, or rather “his principals” to examine the situation on the eve of the military meeting.

This meeting, presented by the local press as that of the High Security Council, was dedicated to “the examination of the general situation in Algeria to the examination of the state of security in the borders”. This is how the Algerian presidency presented the agenda.

The meeting was attended by the heavyweights of the PNA, including the Chief of the Armed Forces, Said Chengriha. What is surprising is that there was no civil figure except President Tebboune. There was neither the Prime Minister nor that of Foreign Affairs. The fact that this format is reduced to the military is staggering, especially since Presidential Decree No. 21-539 of December 26, 2021 also includes the Prime Minister and ministers with sovereign portfolios.

The timing of the holding of this so-called “restricted” council is not fortuitous and seems to reflect the Algerian concern for the Moroccan-American exercise which will take place in several regions, including the Moroccan Sahara. Artillery firing exercises will take place in Al Mahbes a few kilometers from Tindouf.

It seems that Algeria is much more concerned about Moroccan military exercises than the Kingdom is about Algerian exercises. As a reminder, Morocco had no reaction, either official or unofficial, when the ANP held tactical maneuvers with live ammunition, at the beginning of May, near the Moroccan border.

1685765170
#Abdelmajid #Tebboune #gathers #headquarters #eve #African #Lion #exercise