Constitutional amendments to allow the Algerian Army to intervene abroad

The proposed amendments to the Algerian Constitution, including a provision allowing the army to participate in missions abroad contrary to previous military dogma, have just been made public. This initiative coincides with the intention of the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to take up the dossier of the Sahara, opening up many expectations of a possible agreement which have so far failed in recent years because of the attitude of the military establishment responsible for the conflict with Morocco.

On the basis of the draft published by the Algerian Presidency, the army will be able to act outside the country's borders. This step has surprised both public opinion and the political parties, which for decades were accustomed to a very different discourse on the tasks and rules of engagement of the Army.

Under the new amendments, the Algerian president can consult parliament before allowing the army to take part in missions outside the country's borders. This would be a major change in the approach to military and diplomatic issues. The oil-rich Maghreb country has always refrained from sending armed forces on missions outside its borders, in compliance with the terms of the Constitution.

However, in recent years Algeria has come under great pressure to involve its army in military security tasks abroad, especially in anti-terrorist missions in the region. Both France and the United States have called on Algiers to join the regional war against terrorism and organised crime.

Algeria's position led the country to suffer a series of diplomatic and strategic setbacks, especially after France's military involvement in the fight against jihadist groups in Mali, with which Algeria shares long borders. Algeria has been absent from the French-led Operation Barkhan against Malian insurgents since 2012. It has also been absent from the African anti-terrorist force, which includes five African contingents working on security issues in the Sahel and Sahara region with French assistance.

Algeria has been marginalized by its refusal to allow its military units to deploy outside its territorial borders, in accordance with the country's Constitution.

The new step planned by Algeria raises questions about its motives. Some have interpreted it as a surrender to external pressures, while others have seen it as a change in the country's military and security strategy adopted by the main leaders to deal with the growing threats on Algeria's eastern and southern borders with the events in Libya and Mali. The draft amendments also suggest a change in the perception of Algeria's security, as they would give the army other options than simply waiting for it to retreat in the face of threats from within the country's borders.

The issue has not so far elicited any significant reaction, perhaps because everyone is concerned about the current pandemic. The support of the Algerian army is likely to be coveted by the external powers, given its leading position among the military forces in the region.

The country's new players may be willing to calmly adopt amendments that introduce a major change in military dogma, while attention is focused on other more controversial issues, such as the future of the Amazigh within the national identity, the creation of the post of vice-president and the rejection of political Islam.

The proposed amendments suggest that the issue of the Amazigh language should be resolved once and for all. This has come as a surprise to those who support the Government but oppose the demands of pro-Amazigh advocates. Many see the suggestions on the Berber issue as an attempt to appeal to pro-Amazigh groups to help restore political and social stability to the country after more than a year of turmoil.

Activist Noureddine Khettal was one of the first to share his reaction on the issue, expressing strong indignation at what he considered a "betrayal" of the political foundations laid by the late army chief of staff, General Ahmed Gaid Saleh. In an audio recording posted on his official website, he asked his supporters to prepare to abort the new constitution, expressing his disappointment at the attitude of those they had helped during the presidential elections last December.

The authorities seem to be counting on the publication of the draft amendments to attract the attention of the population and gain support, or at least divert attention from Hirak's protests that are likely to resume at the end of the country's public health crisis.