in recent developments, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited Syria and met with the newly appointed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.During the visit, Tebboune expressed algeria’s support for Syria and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. However,a significant issue that emerged during this diplomatic visit was the fate of Algerian prisoners held in Syria.According to Syrian sources, a general and over 500 soldiers from the Algerian army, as well as members of the Polisario militia, were imprisoned by Hay’at Tahrir al-Cham while fighting on the side of the Syrian regime near Aleppo. Algeria requested the release of these prisoners, but President al-Sharaa rejected the request, stating that the prisoners would be tried in Syria in accordance with international laws governing prisoners of war. He also mentioned that the prisoners would not be released outside the applicable legal frameworks [1[1].
This issue has added a layer of complexity to the diplomatic relations between Algeria and Syria, as Algeria had hoped to secure the release of its nationals. The visit and the subsequent rejection of the prisoner release request have highlighted the challenges that President al-Sharaa faces as he navigates the political landscape of Syria following the overthrow of bashar al-Assad [2[2].
