Dec 28, 2025

Algeria’s External Rebalancing: Managing Strained Ties with France While Preserving Strategic Stability with the United States$

Analysis by The North Africa Journal

Algeria's foreign policy operates on two distinct tracks: strained relations with France shaped by unresolved colonial grievances and demands for formal apologies, versus pragmatic stability with the United States built on security cooperation and mutual interests. While bilateral tensions with France affect diplomatic trust despite ongoing cooperation in trade and security, the US relationship remains transactional and avoided historical complications even during the Trump administration. Algeria pursues diplomatic diversification across multiple powers to maintain strategic autonomy rather than replacing one partner with another.

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Premium Contents

Flashpoints: In Southern Chad, A Local Clash Reveals Deeper Fragility$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 2, 2026 | Briefs, Communical Conflicts, Social & Human Affairs, Chad, 1shorts, Government abuse, Sahel, Shield and Alert: Sahel, Human Rights, 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free

Clashes near the town of Korbol in southern Chad on January 13, 2026, left soldiers and rebel fighters dead after the army issued a 48‑hour ultimatum to the Movement for Peace, Reconciliation and Development. The incident barely registered internationally, yet it captures a familiar cycle in Chad’s politics: armed groups rejecting disarmament, a government relying on military pressure, and border regions absorbing the costs. Looking at Korbol helps explain how under‑reported local flashpoints quietly sustain instability across the country.

Local Conflicts: State-Imposed Land Pact Struggles to Calm Tensions in Brakna, Mauritania$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 2, 2026 | 1PREMIUM, Briefs, Communical Conflicts, Mauritania, Communal Conflicts, Social & Human Affairs, 1shorts, Africa, Sahel, Social/Human, Shield and Alert: Sahel, 111

Authorities in Mauritania’s Brakna region have forced a truce between rival farming communities after deadly clashes over fertile land in the Waalo zone. The agreement, signed in Aleg under the authority of the regional governor, halts direct confrontations and routes all complaints through the administration, but accusations of bias and political interference show that trust in the state’s land governance remains badly shaken.

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco: Strong Hosting, Weak Crisis Management$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 2, 2026 | Social, Shield and Alert: Maghreb, General issues, 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free, Briefs, 1Alert, Morocco, Social & Human Affairs, 1Notify, 1shorts, Maghreb

Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was widely praised for its stadiums, logistics, and overall organization, but the chaotic final in Rabat told a different story. A stoppage in play, disorder in the stands, and now a controversial set of disciplinary rulings from the continental federation have raised questions about how African football manages its biggest pressure points. The real issue is no longer just who lifted the trophy, but whether the institutions around the game can handle a final as the ultimate stress test.

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