Algeria Adopts General Mobilization Law Amid Regional Tensions

Algeria intends to respond to potential alert situations: a war or foreign aggression, a serious threat to national security or sovereignty, a crisis situation requiring large-scale civil or military mobilization. On Sunday, April 20, the Council of Ministers, chaired by Abdelmadjid Tebboune, adopted a draft law framing general mobilization. This text aims to specify the modalities of organization, preparation, and implementation of this exceptional measure, mentioned in Article 99 of the Algerian Constitution, according to an official statement.

This draft law not only formalizes a nationwide response mechanism to be activated in case of serious threat, but it also establishes the rights and duties of reservists and lays the groundwork for coordinated mobilization between civilians and military, in order to guarantee the security and integrity of the Algerian state. "Mobilization, a duty of everyone, relies on the will, selflessness, and sacrifice of reservists," emphasizes the same source.

The adoption of this text comes in a context marked by a rift between Algeria and Mali, which accused it of shooting down a drone in Malian territory. In solidarity, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso (all three members of the AES) recalled their ambassadors to Algiers. For its part, Algeria recalled its ambassadors in these countries or delayed their arrival, also announcing the closure of airspace with Mali.

With Morocco, relations are not good either. In August 2021, Algiers cut ties with Rabat. Since December 2020, the year Morocco normalized its relations with Israel in exchange for American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, Algeria, protector of the Polisario, perceives its western neighbor as a potential enemy..