Algeria faces regional isolation and allegations of military-led drug trafficking

Algeria is facing significant regional challenges involving military, economic, and diplomatic tensions within the Sahel. Reports indicate that the country's military leadership is allegedly involved in a parallel political economy driven by drug trafficking. High-ranking officials are accused of facilitating the transit of cocaine from Latin America to Europe, utilizing the desert regions of Tindouf and borders with Mauritania and Mali to bypass international controls. This activity reportedly includes the trafficking of tramadol and locally manufactured narcotics, with profits being laundered through real estate and private security firms.

Diplomatically, Algeria is experiencing increasing isolation in the Sahel. Efforts to influence neighbors like Mali and Niger have been perceived as paternalistic or interventionist, leading to a breakdown in relations. While Algeria attempts to project military strength—including the deployment of Sukhoi fighter jets to support Niger—neighboring nations are increasingly looking toward alternative partnerships, such as Morocco's economic offers. Furthermore, the management of migration crises and the expulsion of sub-Saharan nationals have contributed to regional resentment.