Algeria’s Firm Stance in Supporting Bashar al-Assad’s Regime Sparks Outrage Among Syrians

Algeria’s unwavering support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime has triggered anger among many Syrians, who denounce this explicit backing of a regime they describe as dictatorial. Few anticipated that Algerian support for the deposed regime would extend beyond diplomatic measures. However, consistent reports indicate that Algeria has also provided soldiers and military equipment to the Syrian regime to continue suppressing its citizens, raising questions about the motives behind such support, which seems linked to preserving Algeria’s own regime.

In a statement to “Akhbarna,” Souria Ben Aouda, a researcher in political science and international relations, stated: “Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Algeria has always advocated for peaceful and negotiated solutions to the crisis and for avoiding foreign military interventions. Now we are surprised by reports of Algeria’s direct participation in suppressing the Syrian people and employing Polisario mercenaries in the region.”

She added that “Algeria has been one of the countries that supported the Syrian government in international forums, which led the Syrian opposition to consider Algeria’s regime as an enemy of the Syrian people. This sentiment has resurfaced recently after the fall of Bashar’s regime, a key ally of the Algerian military.”

Ben Aouda continued in her interview with “Akhbarna,” stating: “The end of Algeria’s military regime is approaching following the fall of the Syrian regime. The support mentioned earlier is merely a reflection of the Algerian military’s fear of losing a key ally in the Arab region. Dictators inevitably support one another, and the connection between these two countries through their relationship with Russia is a significant factor in this matter.”

Finally, the researcher in international relations and political science concluded: “The Algerian military regime now finds itself in a precarious position due to its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime. It also faces mounting internal challenges as popular protests against socio-economic policies push the country further into uncertainty.”