UK Military Intelligence Flags Algeria’s Russian Connection

In its recent update on the Ukraine conflict, UK Defence Intelligence reports that Sergey Surovikin, former commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, has resurfaced in a new position at the Russian Embassy in Algeria. Surovikin, once also head of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), has been photographed at a May 9 Victory Day event in Dely Brahim in Algiers, appearing significantly thinner and marking his first public appearance in an official capacity since 2023.

Surovikin’s new role is reportedly as “head of a group of Russian military specialists” in Algeria, raising questions about Moscow’s military activities in Algeria and the region. The appearance comes after months of absence following the Wagner Group mutiny in June 2023, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and denounced by President Vladimir Putin as an act of treason. We had already reported his reappearance in Oran, in our article Five Proofs Algeria’s Military Regime is Russia’s Puppet.

Despite widespread speculation about Surovikin’s possible arrest and detention in the aftermath of the mutiny, no official confirmation has ever been provided by the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD). In September 2023, references to Surovikin were quietly removed from the MOD’s website.

The UK Defence Intelligence update comes amid an increasingly tense context in relations between Algeria and the United Kingdom. This tension is underscored by the recent appointment of General Abdelkader Aït Ouarabi (also known as General Hassan) as head of the Algerian General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI). His appointment has been interpreted as a subtle signal to Western intelligence agencies, particularly British and American, of Algeria’s readiness to escalate pressure in response to growing diplomatic and security frictions. This coincides with the UK’s recent recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a move that Algeria sees as a direct challenge to its longstanding support for the Sahrawi independence movement.

Abderrahmane Fares ✍️