A little over a month and a half after Algeria's initial intervention in Ksar Ich, in the province of Figuig, soldiers from the eastern neighbor are active in the area and are asserting their sovereignty, leaving the local residents in a difficult situation. At the end of March, the Algerian army was deployed on the only provincial road leading to the border oasis.
After four years of tensions with Spain, Algeria has eased its stance, setting aside the conditions related to the Sahara issue that were outlined in spring 2022 by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
During a whirlwind visit to Algiers, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed gas imports and geopolitical tensions, while cautiously addressing the Western Sahara issue and calling for a solution in line with the United Nations’ vision.
Morocco has significantly ramped up its lobbying efforts in the United States, outspending Algeria and strategically diversifying its approach with multiple firms to influence US policy, particularly regarding Western Sahara. While Rabat's spending has surged to $3.49 million in 2025, Algeria's more modest efforts, totaling $660,000, highlight a stark contrast in their respective influence strategies.
The official silence from Algeria regarding American maneuvers to classify the Polisario as a terrorist entity has been broken by Abdelaziz Rahabi, a former minister and influential diplomat. As Washington ramps up its pressure, Rahabi criticizes a transactional diplomacy orchestrated by the Republicans, which threatens to portray Algeria as a state supporting terrorism.