Algeria accuses the UAE of interference in elections
Algeria has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of attempting to interfere in its elections, as tensions continue to mount between the two states.
In an interview broadcast on state media on Saturday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune accused the Gulf state of meddling in his country's affairs, without mentioning the UAE by name.
“They interfere in our elections, in the first and then the second election. They meddled in this and that affair," he said.
Questioned about Algeria's relations with a number of Gulf states, he described them as "more than fraternal".
"What affects Saudi Arabia affects us...we have excellent relations with the Al Jabir family (of Kuwait). They are people of their word," he said.
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With regards to the UAE, he was scathing however.
"It remains a state, not to say a mini-state, that is just posturing," he said.
Revoking air agreement
Algeria and the UAE have faced off against each other in North Africa repeatedly in recent years, with Tebboune accusing the Emiratis of playing a destabilising role in a number of countries in the region.
During the 2019 Hirak movement that toppled long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the UAE became a common target of the protesters, who saw the Gulf state as a reactionary force fighting democratic movements in the region.
Placards were scrawled with messages like "No to the UAE on the land of the martyrs", referring to the Algerians killed in the country's liberation struggle against France.
Meanwhile, official circles in Algeria have repeatedly accused the UAE embassy of "suspicious moves" and its ambassador of being "on a mission to destabilise" the country.
The president's most recent comments come as Algeria announced the ending of a 2013 air agreement between the two countries.
State-owned media announced the move on Saturday, without providing an explicit reason.
"Algeria has initiated procedures to terminate the air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, signed in Abu Dhabi on 13 May 2013 and ratified by a presidential decree dated 30 December 2014," it said.
"Under Article 22 of the agreement, the Emirati side must be formally notified of the termination through diplomatic channels. The Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will also be notified to undertake the necessary procedures within the organisation."
In response on Sunday, the Emirati General Civil Aviation Authority said the move had so far no "immediate impact on flight operations", as the agreement remains in effect during the legally required notice period.
In his interview, Tebboune also implied the UAE was threatening to resort to international arbitration over their investments in Algeria.
“They threaten to impoverish us simply through international arbitration. Let them go to arbitration," he said.
“Don’t let us regret the day we first met you.”
Relations crumbling
Last month, Algerian media suggested the country could even sever its diplomatic relations with the UAE over claims it supported separatist groups in the country.
El-Khabar, a newspaper known to be close to the Algerian authorities, said the UAE was suspected of supporting Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (MAK), a separatist group designated a terrorist organisation by Algiers.
“The question of whether Algeria will sever its diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi is being raised with increasing urgency,” el-Khabar wrote.
“The answer will be revealed in the coming days, especially since Algeria is expressing deep dissatisfaction with practices that can be described, at the very least, as hostile and that have no connection whatsoever with Arab brotherhood, historical relations or shared destiny.”
In a “clear message”, el-Khabar continued, "Algeria reaffirmed that its relations with the United Arab Emirates are not good, unlike those it maintains with other brotherly Arab countries."
In a previous article, el-Khabar indicated that the UAE ambassador to Algeria had become persona non grata and was no longer being dealt with by any Algerian entity.
Last month, Africa Intelligence reported that Algiers was severing diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi one by one, with Tebboune deciding to reduce Algeria's diplomatic representation in the UAE to a bare minimum.
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