Algerian president denies secret Tunisia military agreement Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 12/31/2025 - 14:18 Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s statements follow publication of unauthenticated document alleging existence of pact that would harm Tunisian sovereignty Tunisia's President Kais Saied (right) receives Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune upon the latter's arrival at Tunis-Carthage International Airport in April 2024 (Fethi Belaid/AFP) Off Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has hit back at allegations concerning the existence of a secret military cooperation agreement with Tunisia that would infringe on the sovereignty of Tunis, following a controversy triggered by the publication of a document of dubious authenticity. Dismissing accusations of Algerian interference in Tunisian affairs, Tebboune denounced an "attempt to destabilise" Tunisia and the friendship between the two North African neighbours. “There are parties seeking to sow discord between Algeria and Tunisia, believing it would facilitate their infiltration,” he said . The controversy dates back to the signing of a military cooperation agreement between Algeria and Tunisia on 7 October this year, officially aimed at "strengthening joint training, information sharing and coordination in the face of cross-border threats". Due to the lack of official information on its precise content, the agreement fuelled concerns and rumours. The Tunisian defence minister responded by stating that it was in fact "nothing new" and merely an update of a 2001 cooperation agreement intended to "adapt to regional developments and broaden its scope of action". However, on 17 December, a document presented as a leak of the agreement began circulating online, sparking concerns about a possible “ vassalage ” of Tunisia to the benefit of Algeria. 'Some parties want to sever the bonds of brotherhood between Algeria and Tunisia, thinking they can then attack it more easily' - Abdelmadjid Tebboune The document, supposedly classified, claims that the military agreement authorises the Algerian army to penetrate up to 50km into Tunisian territory to pursue “terrorists” or armed groups and contribute to the “restoration of institutional stability” in Tunisia in the event of unrest, by neutralising “seditious groups”. This perspective would particularly worry the Tunisian opposition, which is already facing strong repression orchestrated by President Kais Saied since his 2021 coup , with many political figures, lawyers and activists jailed after trials seen by local and international rights groups as politically motivated. According to the alleged military agreement, Tunisia would assume all logistical responsibilities, from accommodation to expenses for deployed troops. The text also mentions the granting of natural resources as compensation for the intervention. Furthermore, Tunis would be required to obtain Algiers’ approval before concluding any security or military agreement with a third country. Questions on authenticity The document revived a debate on Tunisia’s sovereignty and the transparency of its alliances and was criticised as a “tutelage” and “guardianship” of the country by Algeria, in addition to portraying the Algerian army as a mercenary force. It was picked up by several foreign media outlets, particularly Moroccan and French , which saw it as evidence of Algeria's control over Tunisia and the fragility of President Saied's nationalist rhetoric. The French right-wing newspaper Le Figaro, in particular, quoted sources evoking conditions reminiscent of those of the French protectorate over Tunisia. However, the authenticity of the document has been questioned. Algerian geopolitical expert Akram Kharief, editor-in-chief of the Mena Defense website, analysed the document and concluded it is a forgery . As the UAE expands military footprint in Africa, Algeria draws line in the sand Read More » Kharief points to a series of errors, starting with the heading, which reads "People's Democratic Republic of Algeria - Tunisian Republic", followed by the single phrase "Ministry of National Defence". “This mix-up alone should raise an eyebrow for anyone who has ever seen an official document,” he writes. The heading also reads “Top Secret - Defence” but the classification box simply states “Classified Defence”. Furthermore, Kharief explains, while a draft decree of this nature should specifically cite the previous laws and agreements that underpin its legality, the leaked document only refers to them in general terms and is mistaken about the date of the single legal text it cites. Also, the rank of the Algerian army chief of staff is incorrect, while the name of the Tunisian defence minister is wrong. In substance, the document “directly clashes with the Algerian Constitution, which strictly regulates any military intervention abroad and makes it contingent upon clearly defined multilateral frameworks and the approval of the Algerian parliament,” Kharief points out. ‘Normalisers’ In his address to the nation before both houses of parliament on Tuesday, Tebboune warned against "attempts by narrow-minded individuals to sow discord between the two countries". “Some parties want to sever the bonds of brotherhood between Algeria and Tunisia, thinking they can then attack it more easily,” he said. “They believe that by cutting it off from Algeria, Tunisia will be easy prey. They don’t know Tunisians. Patriotism in Tunisia is very strong, and those who try to portray it as easy prey are mistaken.” Rights groups denounce ‘impunity’ in Tunisia after man dies following police brutality Read More » Tebboune also made an implicit allusion to those who, according to him, are seeking to damage the ties between the two states. “Tunisia is not among the normalisers and those who rushed to do so,” he said, referring to the so-called Abraham accords formalising diplomatic relations between Israel and certain Arab countries, notably the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, which the Algerian President has strongly criticised . Tunisian President Saied, Tebboune said , is “neither in favour of normalisation nor of rushing into things”. He also responded to accusations by saying Algeria had “never interfered in the internal affairs of Tunisia” and the Algerian army “has never entered” and “will never enter” Tunisia. However, he said, “Algeria’s security is inseparable from Tunisia’s, and vice versa” and “whoever harms Tunisia harms Algeria”. On 18 December, the Tunisian president had already denied the rumours circulating about the content of the agreement, denouncing the “misguided” actions of those who “continue to harm the Tunisian people” as well as “fabricated documents”. Diplomacy News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0