FinPol Digest

  Algeria’s role in Africa’s defense landscape has gained significant attention in recent years. With its growing military capability and focus on modernizing its air force, Algeria has emerged as a key player in providing military aid to neighboring countries. One of the most recent and potentially impactful moves involves Algeria’s reported donation of surplus Russian-imported MiG-29 fighter jets to the Sudanese Air Force. A Shift in Military Balance The Algerian Ministry of Defense is reportedly set to donate these surplus MiG-29 aircraft, currently a part of Algeria’s air combat fleet, to support Sudan’s national armed forces. This donation comes at a critical time for Sudan, a country in the midst of ongoing internal conflicts and political instability, exacerbated by the 2019 coup that overthrew President Omar al-Bashir. The Algerian MiG-29 fighter jets, while not the latest in modern aviation technology, still represent a significant boost to Sudan’s military capabilities. T...

 Former Cameroon and Barcelona football star Samuel Eto'o issued an apology yesterday after he was filmed kneeing an Algerian YouTuber in the face, after being approached by the social media personality following Brazil's 4-1 win over South Korea during the World Cup knockout stages in Doha, Qatar, the night before. In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, the 41-year-old who is currently the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation and an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup, was approached by fans for selfies as he left Stadium 974. He was then approached by Said Mamouni who was holding a video camera and reportedly asked whether Eto'o had bribed the referee prior to Cameroon's World Cup qualifying playoff victory over Algeria in March. Eto'o has criticized Algerian fans since the contentious match, while Algeria complained to FIFA over the refereeing, initially demanding a re-match. An enraged Eto'o can then be seen trying to pursue...

 A French magazine has revealed that seventeen Members of the European Parliament are demanding a review of the EU association agreement with Algeria over the North African state's links with Russia. Algeria is alleged to have provided financial and logistical support to Moscow in its war against Ukraine. According to Jeune Afrique, the MEPs submitted a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last Wednesday requesting a review of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement signed in 2002 and in force since 2005. The group of parliamentarians is led by Andrius Kubilius, former Prime Minister of Lithuania and head of the European People's Party (EPP, Christian Democrats). The signatories are Lithuania, France, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Finland, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. They pointed out some examples of incidents that "prove" Algeria's support for Russia against Ukraine. On 2 March, for example, Algeria abstained from voting on the UN r...

 Algeria has urged Libya to hold elections as soon as possible to resolve the country’s crisis. In a press statement on Wednesday, the spokesman for the Algerian foreign ministry urged political parties to avoid escalation and hold a fair election. The Algerian foreign ministry wrote on Twitter, “Algeria has expressed great concern for the resumption of armed clashes in Libya after the recent outbreak of armed clashes in Tripoli.” The ministry also asked Libya’s politicians to put the national interest first.  Fathi Bashagha flees the capital One of Libya’s rival prime ministers, Fathi Bashagha, was forced to leave the capital Tripoli on May 17 after clashes between rival militias. Former Interior Minister Bashagha had arrived in Tripoli with several ministers, but he had to leave the capital city.  His arrival in Tripoli triggered armed confrontations in central Tripoli and elsewhere in the city. He was appointed by the east-based House of Representatives (HoR) in a cha...