Several Algerian media outlets reported the announcement. Some tried to explain what the office would do; others asked why the FBI was returning to Algiers now. However, to my surprise, the wider debate remained limited, as did the details of this new sub-office.<\/p>\n
That said, this is likely because Algerian journalists have little freedom to interrogate decisions involving national security, foreign intelligence and sensitive diplomatic arrangements.<\/p>\n
Old partners<\/p>\n
It is important to point out that this isn\u2019t the first time that the FBI has set up base in Algiers. The United States already had a full legal attach\u00e9 office in Algeria following 9\/11. Around 2010, when Algeria was considered safer and wealthier, it was moved to Tunisia, where Washington had a vested interest post-revolution.<\/p>\n
The Tunisian authorities were also seeking support from several Western countries as they attempted to reform their judicial and security institutions, according to analyst Akram Kharief.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the return of the FBI in Algeria is likely due to the efforts led by Ali Badaoui<\/a>, who was appointed Director General of National Security in 2024. Soon after he started his role, the US was one of his major foreign engagements. He travelled there to meet with then head of the FBI\u2019s New York Field Office, James Smith, to discuss transnational organised crime, law-enforcement cooperation and new operational methods.<\/p>\n This seems to fit into Badoui\u2019s interest in extending practical police cooperation<\/a> with foreign partners, including with Britain\u2019s Home Office and National Crime Agency, Slovenia\u2019s national police and Italy\u2019s police leadership. The relationships cover biometric identification, criminal data exchange, forensic work, cybercrime, organised crime, and irregular migration.<\/p>\n What could Algeria gain?<\/p>\n In reality, criminal networks no longer respect national borders. Cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, terrorism financing, trafficking and money laundering frequently involve people, accounts and evidence spread across several countries.<\/p>\n A permanent FBI liaison officer could therefore make it easier for Algerian investigators to request information held in the US, trace suspicious financial transactions or coordinate cases involving American companies and digital platforms. The sub-office would be another liaison channel with the Algerian police, gendarmerie and ministry of justice.<\/p>\n Algerian authorities could also be seeking to benefit from the FBI\u2019s specialist training and technical expertise.<\/p>\n Additionally, there may be a financial dimension to recent developments. Washington is possibly seeking to improve the international transparency of Algeria\u2019s banking system. This would make sense given just last year Badoui was involved in the agreement<\/a> signed between Algeria\u2019s Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) and the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit over the exchange of information on money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of weapons proliferation.<\/p>\n
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