Algeria has announced the termination of its diplomatic relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing the Gulf country of engaging in actions it described as “provocative or hostile.”
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had repeatedly attempted to address the situation through diplomatic channels and cautioned Abu Dhabi about the possible consequences of its conduct.
However, the ministry said its efforts had failed and that Algeria had exhausted available options to maintain cooperation between the two countries.
The government did not disclose the specific incident that triggered the decision, although relations between Algiers and Abu Dhabi have deteriorated over several regional disputes in recent years.
The UAE ambassador in Algeria was summoned by officials and formally notified of the decision.
He was reportedly given 48 hours to comply with the requirements following the diplomatic break.
There was no immediate official response from the UAE government.
However, Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, appeared to address the development in a post on X.
Without directly naming Algeria, Mr Gargash said international relations should be conducted through communication, rational engagement and clearly defined interests.
He argued that uncertainty could not serve as a substitute for a coherent diplomatic strategy.
Tensions between Algeria and the UAE have been heightened by their differing positions on several sensitive matters in North Africa and the Middle East.
Algeria has consistently opposed the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel.
The UAE, alongside Morocco, normalised relations with Israel through the US-backed Abraham Accords.
The two governments also hold opposing positions on Western Sahara.
Abu Dhabi supports Morocco’s claim to the disputed territory, while Algiers backs the Polisario Front, which campaigns for an independent Sahrawi state.
The latest move represents a significant deterioration in relations between the North African nation and the Gulf power.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong