Algeria: Algeria Cuts Diplomatic Ties with UAE

What the report says

Algeria has cut diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and said it will close its airspace to Emirati aircraft, according to a report by Deutsche Welle distributed through AllAfrica. The move, announced by Algiers on Thursday, was framed by Algerian officials as a response to what they called provocative and hostile actions by Abu Dhabi. The airspace restriction was set to begin on Friday, while commercial flights between the two countries were said to continue for a limited period.

The report says Algeria’s foreign ministry said it had tried to preserve the relationship before taking the step and ordered the UAE’s ambassador to comply within 48 hours. The Emirati foreign ministry responded by expressing hope that the rupture would be temporary and by stressing people-to-people ties, including Algerians living in the UAE. UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash also posted that relations should be handled through clarity and rational discussion, without directly naming Algeria.

The dispute comes against a backdrop of longer-running tension over the UAE’s regional role. Algeria has accused Abu Dhabi of helping destabilize countries such as Libya, Sudan and Mali, and the article notes broader accusations around the UAE’s support for rival armed and political actors in those conflicts. The development matters because it signals a sharper break between two regional players and reflects wider competition for influence across North and West Africa and the Sahel.