MAPPING ALGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY IN AFRICA THROUGH COMPLEX NETWORK ANALYSIS: SECURITY AND ENERGY DYNAMICS (2019–2025)

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of Algeria’s foreign policy in Africa between 2019 and 2025 through the lens of complex network analysis (CNA). While Algeria has traditionally maintained selective bilateral ties with African countries, recent developments reveal a shift toward denser, more diversified, and strategically embedded partnerships—particularly in the domains of energy diplomacy and security cooperation. Existing literature often treats Algeria’s African engagement as reactive or ideologically motivated. This study challenges that narrative by posing the following question: To what extent has Algeria adopted a coherent, networked foreign policy strategy across the continent? The central hypothesis holds that Algeria is repositioning itself as a regional orchestrator by constructing multi-nodal, institutionally framed, and infrastructurally grounded networks, which enhance its strategic autonomy and regional influence. To test this hypothesis, the study adopts a mixed-method approach combining qualitative content analysis with quantitative network analysis. Empirical data were collected from official sources and mapped using Gephi, an open-source software for visualizing and analyzing networks. Weighted ties were assigned based on the depth, diversity, and institutionalization of bilateral and multilateral engagements. The results reveal a hierarchized and regionally clustered structure: Algeria maintains high-density ties with Maghreb neighbors such as Tunisia and Libya, strategic infrastructural partnerships with countries like Nigeria and Niger, and emerging linkages with Sub-Saharan states including Zimbabwe and Uganda. Network indicators such as degree centrality and modularity confirm Algeria’s role as a central node in Africa’s energy and security architectures. The findings suggest a deliberate transition from bilateralism to structural regionalism, positioning Algeria as a strategic broker in an increasingly networked continental system.