Algeria and the Sahel in the Arab Spring Aftermath

Following the Arab Spring protests in 2011, North Africa experienced one disruptive event after another, which spilled over into the Sahel. Tunisia’s dictator fell and the country held elections, Egypt overthrew Mubarak only to have the Muslim Brotherhood led government ousted, the United States intervened in Libya which has since devolved into an ongoing armed conflict, and jihadists took over two-thirds of Mali which they later lost in a French intervention. Yet one country, Algeria, has remained relatively stable while simultaneously pushing aggressively for diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts.

New America is pleased to welcome Hannah Armstrong, a writer and New America International Security Program fellow who is based in Algeria and who has seven years of experience researching North African and Sahel political and security dynamics, for a discussion of Algeria’s muscular foreign policy in the region and why we should not expect an Algerian Arab Spring anytime soon.

Featuring Hannah Armstrong, Fellow, International Security Program, New America; and Peter Bergen Director, International Security Program, New America.