History, Culture, Flashpoint North Africa

Dear Colleagues,

Advised by his doctor to get out of damp, cold England, composer Gustav Holst went to Algeria for time off in April 1908. Oil was struck that year in the Middle East, in Persia. In America, the term “Melting Pot” came into proper usage, popularized by a play of the same name.

This Sunday, September 21, marks the day Holst was born in 1874, in a town adjacent the Cotswolds in southwest England.

Holst suffered perpetual overwork and neuritis, wrote his daughter Imogen; “he was only free from pain when he was able to put his arm a few inches away from an oil stove or gas fire.”

Today’s Algeria is pushing for tourism, luring Europeans desperate for winter sun and warmth (Brits lead the pack). But foreign policy hands are focused on geo-strategic competition.

American Stakes in North Africa, Rivals in Algeria

America wants an upgraded defense relationship with Algeria. Earlier this year, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Michael Langley and Algerian General Saïd Chanegriha signed an agreement in Algiers that establishes a formal framework for closer military cooperation. This, while Russia tries to maintain its traditionally close ties to the North African nation and China builds highways and railroads with an eye to untapped resources. Algeria holds significant reserves of both oil and natural gas, along with considerable potential in renewable energy. Vast desert regions help with solar.

Iran may be the biggest geopolitical story. Tehran’s current rapprochement with Algiers seems designed to offset losses from Hezbollah’s clipped wings in Lebanon, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, the dismantling of Hamas in Gaza, and nuclear program setbacks courtesy of Israeli and U.S. strikes in June.

There’s ample reason to believe that the Iranian regime now sees Algeria as an outpost for influence across North Africa. There’s always conflict to exacerbate with Algeria’s regional rival, Morocco.

During President Trump’s first term, Washington supported Rabat’s claim over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco signing with Israel and the U.S. an agreement since considered part of the Abraham Accords. Iran has trained fighters from the Algeria-based Polisario Front, the nationalist militant group fighting for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco.

The MBN Role

It hardly matters where you look in our region. It’s abundantly clear that America needs a clear and steady voice in the Middle East and North Africa. MBN is the only U.S.-funded Arabic language media outlet that produces fact-based journalism to inform our audience. We strive for truth and accuracy to counter the narratives and malign influence of American adversaries.

You’ve been tenacious, responsible, and reliable. I’ve taken note of the comment scribbled on the second floor chalkboard in Springfield about the bond between MBN and the American taxpayer. You’re devoted.

Under exceptionally challenging circumstances, MBN keeps generating strong, mission-aligned content. Here’s an MBN take on U.S.-Algerian relations. We’ll have a closer look at Iranian and Chinese influence in Algeria and across North Africa in the weeks ahead.

Parliamentarian Paula Yacoubian joined Joe recently on The Diplomat to discuss the historic opportunity Beirut has to break Hezbollah’s grip on key parts of Lebanese society. Ibrahim Eissa discusses the book Islam and the Foundations of Governance by Ali Abdel Raziq. The book was first published in 1925. It represents an enduring case for a modern, moderate, civil state.

We have Ghassan Taqi on Syrian-Israeli rapprochement, Dalshad Hussein on Iraqis fighting with Russians in Ukraine plus: Randa on electricity prices, Aya on Gen Z protest culture, Lara on a Miss Universe competition, and Israeli out-of-area normalization stories. It’s all here; keep encouraging people to sign up for our newsletter, The MBN Briefing.

Listen, Read

As a kid, Gustav Holst learned piano which he loved, violin which he hated, and trombone which he endured (Holst grew up asthmatic). Holst’s month in Algeria in the spring of 1908 inspired an orchestral suite called Beni Mora. The composer is best known for his suite, The Planets. Here’s the full collection, starting with Mars.

Competition for influence in Algeria goes back. Here’s a 1957 U.S. Naval Institute essay on great power rivalry of the day. On Beijing’s strategy toward Algeria today, here’s a paper published last month by the Jamestown Foundation. On current Iranian thinking, there’s this.

Here’s a helpful read. It’s a paper from this summer by Sabina Henneberg, published by Rob Satloff’s Washington Institute for Near East Policy, on U.S. strategic engagement with Algeria.

We’ll keep building our network, enriching our content, widening the MBN lens. Great journalism. Unique perspectives. Advancing American interests — with credibility and impact. That’s our value proposition. And we’re cheaper than the cost of a couple Apache helicopters.

Thanks for your dedication and valuable work, dear colleagues.

My best, Jeff