As the Sahel region grapples with surging jihadist violence and geopolitical fragmentation, Algeria stands out as a rare pillar of stability—marked by restraint, independence, and low exposure to terrorism, according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index.
In contrast to its volatile southern neighbours, Algeria has maintained relative calm while the Sahel now accounts for over 51% of global terrorism-related deaths.
The region has seen a stark rise in extremist attacks, with Niger witnessing a 94% spike in terrorism-related fatalities, and Burkina Faso topping the list of the most affected countries.
Algeria, however, ranks 42nd in the index, with a minimal impact from terrorism.
This calm is particularly striking in a landscape dominated by military coups, shifting alliances, and expanding armed groups.
Algeria, by comparison, has remained committed to its long-standing doctrine of regional sovereignty and non-interference, supported by a powerful security apparatus rooted in the lessons of its own “black decade” of internal conflict.
While Algeria has faced sporadic cross-border threats—especially along its frontier with Mali—it has not experienced the scale of mass casualty attacks seen elsewhere in the region.
Neighbouring Niger, for instance, suffered one of the deadliest assaults in 2024, when 237 soldiers were killed in a single day in Tankademi.
As countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso pivot toward Russia and sever ties with ECOWAS, Algeria continues to advocate for regional dialogue.
Its past involvement in the 2015 Algiers Accord, despite recent setbacks, highlights its enduring commitment to mediation over militarism.
Despite strained relations with the Malian junta, Algeria remains vocal in calling for inclusive approaches to Tuareg uprisings—an alternative to the predominantly military responses favoured by other states.
Algeria’s resilience is further bolstered by a foreign policy that carefully balances skepticism of Western military interventions with caution over growing Russian and Chinese influence.
Unlike Niger and Mali, Algeria has resisted engagement with the Wagner Group or other lopsided bilateral security arrangements.
This deliberate positioning—neither fully aligned with Western powers nor subordinate to emerging Eastern blocs—has granted Algeria a distinct diplomatic identity in a fragmented Sahel.
As terrorism continues to reshape regional dynamics, Algeria moves with quiet confidence, forging its own path in a turbulent neighbourhood.
