Algeria’s Rentier-Authoritarian Regime in the Aftermath of the Energy Crisis
Europe’s drive for energy security and a green transition has intensified cooperation with Algeria and the wider MENA region. Initiatives like the Taqathy+ programme, backed by the EU and Germany, aim to position Algeria as a regional hub for renewable energy, building on megaprojects such as Medlink and the SouthH2 Corridor. While these projects are promoted as tools for sustainable development and decarbonization, they primarily serve European energy interests. Local populations are often excluded from decision-making, and renewable energy exports risk reinforcing Algeria’s centralized, rentier-authoritarian structures rather than democratizing the sector. In practice, these initiatives advance Europe’s net-zero goals while leaving Algerians marginalized from the energy transition, even as climate change increasingly affects the region.