Algeria has officially decided to sever diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, citing a series of “provocative or hostile” actions by Abu Dhabi that persisted despite “repeated warnings.” The Algerian foreign ministry announced on Thursday that the UAE’s conduct had reached an unacceptable threshold, stating that the government had “exhausted all means of preserving bilateral relations.”
Diplomatic expulsion and regional friction
As part of the formal severance, the Emirati ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Algiers. The diplomat was notified of the decision and given a 48-hour deadline to comply with the order to depart. There has been no immediate comment from the UAE regarding the announcement.
Core areas of disagreement
- Israel and the Abraham AccordsAlgeria remains a staunch opponent of normalisation with Israel. Conversely, the UAE and Algeria’s regional rival, Morocco, established formal diplomatic ties with Israel under the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords.
- Western Sahara disputeThe nations are on opposing sides of the long-standing Western Sahara conflict. The UAE supports Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the territory and maintains a consulate there, while Algeria provides support to the Polisario Front, which advocates for an independent Western Sahara.
- Sahel influenceInterests have increasingly clashed in the Sahel region, where the UAE has expanded its diplomatic and economic ties with various governments. This expansion coincides with a period where Algeria’s influence has waned following a series of military coups among its southern neighbours.
Presidential rhetoric
Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune has frequently criticised the UAE in public addresses, labelling it a “micro-state” or “statelet” intent on destabilising the region. In a televised interview this past July, Tebboune claimed the UAE has had a “very negative impact,” stating, “Wherever they set foot, blood flows. We want them to stay away, so that blood does not flow in our country.” At that time, Tebboune remarked that a diplomatic break “would have happened long ago” had Algeria not been concerned about “deepening divisions” within the Arab world.
