Tebboune boycotts major energy forum in Russia to protest Moscow’s growing ties with Rabat
While 84 countries gathered this week in Moscow for the World Energy Week, one of the world’s largest forums dedicated to the future of sustainable energy, Algeria’s absence was particularly noticeable. Acting on direct orders from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, no Algerian delegation attended the event — a move widely seen as a protest against Russia’s recent diplomatic shift on two highly sensitive issues for Algiers: the Moroccan Sahara and northern Mali.
According to diplomatic sources, the Kremlin reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan under the Kingdom’s sovereignty, a position that Algeria has vehemently opposed for decades. This endorsement of the Moroccan proposal reportedly angered the Algerian leadership, prompting a full boycott of the Russian-hosted forum.
The tensions do not end there. Moscow has also expressed concern about Algeria’s role in northern Mali, where several Western and African reports suggest the country has been involved in security interferences through paramilitary networks, terrorist groups, and local militias.
Russia, which has been expanding its presence in the Sahel through its Africa Corps (the successor to the Wagner Group), is said to view Algeria’s military maneuvers in the region with increasing suspicion.
Meanwhile, the World Energy Week, held from October 15 to 17 at the Manege Exhibition Center in Moscow, brought together leaders, experts, and industry figures from across 84 nations to discuss major global challenges in the energy transition, including supply security, renewable energy development, and international cooperation.
Editorial team/le7tv (With Sahel Intelligence)
