Algeria Charts Its Digital Sovereignty: Ministry of National Defence Unveils 2025–2029 National Cybersecurity Strategy

Far from being a routine policy document, the five-year strategy constitutes a structural recalibration of Algeria’s cyber defence architecture. It is designed to reinforce the national protection framework safeguarding state institutions and strategic infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated and transnational digital threats.

Digital Sovereignty as a National Security Imperative

Speaking at the launch event, Major General Abdeslam Belghoul, Director General of the Agency, framed the initiative within the broader context of accelerated global digital transformation. He underscored that cyberspace has evolved into a borderless and complex domain characterised by an exponential expansion of digital services alongside a proliferation of malicious activity.

At the core of the strategy lies a central doctrine: digital sovereignty. Defined as the State’s capacity to control its data, networks, software, and information systems, digital sovereignty is positioned not merely as a technical objective but as a fundamental pillar of national security. In this conception, cybersecurity is inseparable from state stability, institutional continuity, and strategic autonomy.

The articulation of sovereignty in digital terms reflects a recognition that the theatre of national defence has expanded beyond land, sea, and air into a permanent, invisible domain of contestation.

Cyberspace as a Strategic Battlefield

Citing data from specialised international bodies, General Belghoul noted that thousands of new malware variants emerge daily while previously unknown vulnerabilities are constantly being uncovered. The global financial cost of cyberattacks, he indicated, has reached staggering levels amounting to trillions of dollars annually.

More critically, he described cyberspace as a strategic battlefield. It is exploited not only by cybercriminal networks but also by terrorist groups and state actors engaged in espionage, disinformation campaigns, and geopolitical competition. Cyberattacks, he stressed, are no longer isolated criminal incidents; they are frequently state-sponsored instruments serving political, strategic, or economic objectives.

The implications are profound: cybersecurity policy is no longer confined to IT departments but now occupies the frontlines of national defence doctrine.

Technological Acceleration and Emerging Vulnerabilities

The strategy acknowledges that technological innovation presents both opportunity and exposure. Artificial intelligence, 5G and forthcoming 6G networks, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things promise economic transformation and public service optimisation. Yet they simultaneously generate new attack surfaces and systemic vulnerabilities.

In Algeria, the context is equally dynamic. In line with presidential directives, all state sectors are engaged in accelerated digitalisation. Online public services are expanding rapidly, and internet penetration continues to grow. However, increased connectivity invariably expands risk exposure.

General Belghoul was unequivocal: Algeria is not immune. Ransomware, phishing schemes, identity theft, website defacement, and data breaches have all affected national information systems. These incidents underscore the urgency of a coordinated national response.

Institutional Architecture and Strategic Governance

A critical milestone in Algeria’s cybersecurity governance was the establishment of the National Information Systems Security Framework by presidential decree in January 2020. This structure provides the institutional foundation for national cyber governance, with the National Council responsible for examining and validating strategic orientations proposed by the Agency.

The Agency’s mandate extends beyond policy drafting. It is tasked with coordinating strategy implementation, collecting and analysing information related to national systems, conducting digital investigations in the event of incidents, proposing regulatory texts, and strengthening capacity through training, awareness campaigns, and research and development initiatives.

Importantly, the 2025–2029 strategy was prepared through a participatory approach engaging multiple sectors. It integrates recommendations from the National Cybersecurity Conference, data derived from the national census of information systems, comparative analysis of leading international models, and the framework proposed by the International Telecommunication Union.

This methodical process signals a deliberate effort to align Algeria’s cyber governance with international standards while preserving national specificity.

Four Strategic Objectives

The strategy articulates a clear overarching vision: to guarantee Algeria’s cyber resilience by strengthening prevention, detection, and incident response capabilities.

To achieve this, four strategic objectives have been defined:

• First, reinforcing the resilience of national information systems to ensure operational continuity under attack conditions.
• Second, developing a supportive national cybersecurity ecosystem capable of fostering innovation and coordinated response mechanisms.
• Third, cultivating qualified human resources through structured training, education, and research initiatives.
• Fourth, consolidating national and international cooperation in recognition of the transboundary nature of cyber threats.

These objectives are operationalised across four principal pillars: technical capacity building, legal and regulatory development, education and research, and structured cooperation at both national and international levels.

A National Roadmap for Digital Confidence

Beyond defensive architecture, the National Information Systems Security Strategy serves as a comprehensive roadmap aimed at safeguarding state digital infrastructure, preserving data integrity, and ensuring the continuity of essential public services.

It also seeks to protect citizens from evolving cyber threats and to reinforce public trust in the State’s digital environment. Trust, in this context, is not rhetorical; it is foundational to successful digital transformation.

The acceleration of digitalisation across ministries and institutions will only be sustainable if accompanied by robust security frameworks capable of absorbing and neutralising systemic shocks.

In his concluding remarks, General Belghoul emphasised that the success of the strategy depends on coordinated and participatory implementation. Cybersecurity cannot be siloed within a single agency; it requires synchronised engagement across state institutions, technical sectors, academia, and international partners.