Algerian National Security in the Context of Sahelian Geopolitical Volatility: Libya as a Paradigmatic Case of Regional Instability and Strategic Resilience

Algeria's national security posture is increasingly challenged by the evolving instability in the African Sahel, a region characterized by fragile state structures, insurgent mobilizations, and rival geopolitical interventions.This study examines Algeria's security doctrine in the context of Sahelian insecurity, with particular emphasis on the Libyan crisis as a paradigmatic case.Libya's post-2011 collapse transformed it into a generator of asymmetrical threats-transnational terrorism, illicit arms trafficking, organized crime networks, and migratory surges-that reverberate across Algeria's eastern borders.The research demonstrates that Algeria's strategic calculus is compelled to reconcile between defensive militarization and preventive diplomacy.While Algeria maintains a doctrine of constructive neutrality and supports Libyan reconciliation processes, it simultaneously fortifies its border security architecture, strengthens intelligence networks, and expands regional security cooperation.Findings reveal that Algeria's resilience hinges on balancing sovereignty protection with active engagement in multilateral frameworks, highlighting Libya as both the principal vulnerability and the testing ground for Algeria's security doctrine.