Algeria–Syria relations

Algeria-Syria relations

Syria
Algeria

Algero–Syrian relations refers to the relationship between the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Syrian Arab Republic. Algeria has an embassy in Damascus; while Syria has an embassy in Algiers. Both are members of the Arab League (but Syria was suspended in 2012). Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that maintains tie with the Syrian Government under Bashar al-Assad, and has defended the government within the Arab League.

History

The struggle of Algerians against French colonialism during the Algerian War drew inspirations from the other Arab states such as Syria. With such, following the independence of Algeria at 1962 and the 1963 Syrian coup d'état, two countries established relations.

Syrian Civil War

During the civil war in Syria, Algeria has maintained diplomatic ties and opposed any plan to arm the opposition.[1] From the Algerian state's point of view, the Syrian war and the rise of fundamentalism caused significant concerns.[2] According to commentators, this is a legacy of the tensions between Algeria and Saudi Arabia over the Algerian Civil War. As such, Algeria has vehemently opposed the other Arab countries' decisions to arm the Syrian opposition amidst the conflict in Syria due to Algeria's historical trauma, and quietly supports the Syrian Government.[3]

Algeria was considered by some as holding a key to peace in Syria.[4] Because Algeria also faced a destructive civil war between an authoritarian government and Islamist militias in the 1990s, known by Algerians as the 'black decade', many Algerians view the Syria state with solidarity, and, according to one commentator intend to restore peace as well as 'entrench a sentiment of national reconciliation', so they chose to quietly support the Syrian government.[4] Algeria had also acted as mediator between Syria and Turkey.[5]

As of 2015, Algeria has received nearly 25,000 Syrian refugees fleeing the country. Most Syrians in Algeria are now working in small and medium businesses.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Algerian Ambassador to Syria: Algeria's stance towards Syria is firm". SANA (Syrian state news agency). 9 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Salim Tamani (10 September 2012). "The Syrian crisis viewed from Algeria". Aspen Institute Aspenia Online.
  3. ↑ Vijay Prashad. "What Algeria's 'Black War' Can Teach Us About the Syrian Crisis". AlterNet.
  4. 1 2 Hafsa Kara-Mustapha (7 August 2016). "How Algeria (yes, Algeria!) could hold key to Syrian peace". Russia Today.
  5. ↑ Sami Moubayed (15 July 2016). "Algeria mediated secret Turkish-Syrian talks: Syrian source". Gulf News.
  6. ↑ "Syrian refugees in Algeria". Al Arabiya. 9 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Latefa Guemar (17 June 2014). "Seeking safety in Algeria: Syrian refugee women's resilience". Open Democracy.
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