On Sunday, April 20, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune chaired a cabinet meeting marked by the adoption of a draft law on general mobilization. According to a government statement, the legislation aims to «define the provisions related to the organization, preparation, and implementation of general mobilization, as stipulated in Article 99 of the Constitution». This article states that «after consulting the High Security Council, the President of the Council of the Nation, and the President of the National People's Assembly, the President of the Republic may declare a general mobilization during a cabinet meeting». In the Algerian Constitution, published in the Official Journal on December 30, 2020, this measure is preceded by the proclamation of a state of emergency (Article 98) and the declaration of war (Article 100). Lately, political parties and religious figures have urged Algerians to rally around the «state institutions» to «confront enemy forces». These calls come amid a worsening crisis with Mali, which has persisted for two years and escalated after the Algerian army shot down a Malian drone on April 1. It's worth noting that Bamako hosted the first meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Forces of the Sahel States Alliance (AES)—comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—from April 13 to 17. Algeria is also facing tensions with both Morocco and France.
