Algeria, US discuss closer ties in fight against terrorism

2009-10-21

This week's visit to Algeria by the US deputy assistant secretary of defence for Africa highlights both countries' desire to strengthen ties and co-operate in combating terrorism.

By Walid Ramzi for Magharebia in Algiers – 21/10/09

[Walid Ramzi] US defence official Vicki Huddleston paid a visit to Algiers this week to discuss counter-terrorism co-operation.

The United States appreciates Algeria's role in fighting terrorism in the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan regions, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Africa Vicki Huddleston said on Monday (October 19th) at a press conference in Algiers.

Huddleston, who was speaking during a three-day visit to Algeria, said both sides had underlined the need to pursue the "good co-operation" that ties the US and Algeria, notably in the fight against terrorism and for maritime security in the Mediterranean.

The US official's comments came in the context of deepening Algiers-Washington bonds that have been marked by "substantial progress" in political, economic, science and security affairs in recent years, Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci told APS on Tuesday (October 20th).

Huddleston was received by Algerian Defence Minister Abdelmalek Guenaizia on Monday at the ministry's headquarters in Algiers. According to a ministry statement, both sides focused on "bilateral co-operation in the military and technological fields".

"The US did not mask its wish to undertake security and intelligence co-operation with Algeria in the fight against terrorism, a topic of the highest priority in all visits paid by US officials," Maghreb security affairs analyst Hassan Bouliha told Magharebia. "The US constantly lauds Algeria's role in the fight against terrorism, and sees the assistance and information offered by Algeria as really important, given the experience of the Algerian security authorities in countering terrorism."

Huddleston said her talks with Algerian officials touched on "means of instituting security co-operation with the African Union in order to combat terrorism."

In a meeting with the heads of security authorities in African Sahel states (Mali, Mauritania and Niger, as well as hosts Algeria) held in Tamanrasset, Huddleston described that step as "important within the framework of combating terrorism," adding that "the US is going to support any endeavours that seek to eradicate terrorism from the region."

Speaking about the Touareg population scattered across the Sahel region, Huddleston denied that they could be linked in any way to terrorist groups.

"Touareg have nothing at all to do with local terrorist groups," she said. "They are known for their tolerance and have no terrorist [undercurrents] in them."

She also referred to the role of the United States Africa Command, saying, "AFRICOM is going to indirectly co-operate with a number of states, including Algeria, in fighting terrorism in African Sahel states and in Africa in general."

This fight against terrorism, Huddleston continued, will take place through security co-ordination among partner states, such as military training in the US and a number of African Sahel countries, including Algeria. The co-ordination comes in the wake of joint naval manoeuvres off the Algerian coast by the Algerian National Navy and the United States Marine Corps, she added.

Local press and security experts offered detailed analyses, from various perspectives, of the US official's visit.

Huddleston offered Algeria a proposal promising technical assistance in the field of "combating terrorism" to African states through the African Union, according to the daily El Khabar. In return, she received a request that Washington use its leverage in the UN Security Council to obtain a resolution criminalising the payment of ransoms to hostage-holding terrorists.

Hassan Bouliha said Washington "makes no secret of its desire to ensure its security, energy-wise. As such, it strives to extend its energy sources, so it won't be constantly tied to Gulf oil." Additionally, he said, the US is "out to boost its ties with Algeria in order to make use of those ties on the regional level, particularly within the African Union and Africa-wide… because Algeria is an initiative-taker."

"The security co-ordination between Algeria and the US in the fight against terrorism in Africa already exists," Abdelalli Razaki, an academic concerned with security affairs, said in a press statement. "It is well-known that Algerian security interests and US security interests have joined hands in counter-terrorism efforts."

International relations expert Mohamad Samim said the growing US interest "in Algeria, in particular, and in North Africa and the Sahel states, in general, underlines the US concerns that terrorist groups might extend their activities in the region... [and] underscores the US desire to expand co-operation within the region and boost the exchange of information among security bodies."