Algeria at the Forefront of the Global Fight Against Terrorism: A Hard-Won Leadership Rooted in Experience and Sovereignty

Having confronted the hydra of terrorism largely alone for nearly a decade, Algeria today stands at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts at the regional, continental, and international levels. Its sustained engagement and multifaceted initiatives confirm a steadfast commitment to combating a phenomenon that continues to destabilize the Sahel and beyond. The Algiers meeting underscored this reality, highlighting Algeria’s long and painful experience, which has endowed it with a unique strategic depth and operational credibility in this domain.

It is therefore no coincidence that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been recognized by the United Nations Security Council as a champion of the fight against terrorism, in his capacity as African Union Coordinator and the authoritative voice of Africa on this strategic issue. This distinction constitutes a clear international acknowledgment of his consistent engagement and his lucid vision of African collective security. During Algeria’s presidency of the Security Council in January 2025, the country convened a high-level meeting aimed at alerting the international community to the alarming and rapid spread of terrorism across Africa, particularly in the central Sahel, which has become one of the world’s most dangerous epicenters of violent extremism.

The discussions helped refocus attention on the urgent need for a coordinated, sustainable, and genuinely African response to a transnational threat with complex and far-reaching ramifications. Participants emphasized the importance of Africa’s institutional counterterrorism architecture, whose inspiration and foundations are deeply rooted in the Algerian experience. This architecture relies on several continental mechanisms dedicated to prevention and suppression of terrorism and transnational organized crime, notably the African Police Cooperation Mechanism (AFRIPOL) and the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), two major structures headquartered in Algiers.

Algeria’s commitment has also been strongly expressed on the multilateral stage, particularly within the United Nations, where it has led a frontline battle to dry up the sources of terrorist financing. Algiers has forcefully advocated the criminalization of ransom payments, widely recognized as one of the principal financial lifelines of terrorist groups. At the same time, Algeria has consistently defended a comprehensive, inclusive, and integrated approach to counterterrorism, arguing that a purely security-based response remains insufficient. Its vision calls for addressing the deep-rooted structural causes of violent extremism, including poverty, inequality, social exclusion, governance deficits, and the lack of economic opportunities.

True to its principles of sovereignty and non-interference, Algeria has firmly rejected foreign military interventions and external troop presences in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, when conducted under the pretext of counterterrorism. In line with this approach, Algeria took the initiative as early as 2010 to establish the first regional operational coordination mechanism in this field, the Joint Operational Staff Committee (CEMOC), designed to strengthen regional ownership and collective security efforts.

In his role as African Union Coordinator and the continent’s spokesperson on counterterrorism, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s recognition by the United Nations Security Council as a champion of this cause stands as a powerful testament to Algeria’s leadership. It reflects not only diplomatic credibility, but also the moral authority of a nation that transformed its own painful ordeal into a coherent doctrine, a strategic vision, and a lasting contribution to Africa’s security and stability.

Algeria’s message is clear and resolute: the fight against terrorism must be anchored in sovereignty, African ownership, and a holistic vision that combines security, development, and dignity. In an era of growing uncertainty, Algeria continues to stand as a pillar of stability and a reference point in the global battle against extremism.