DZWatch Analysis – In the age of digital warfare, battles are no longer confined to physical territories. The front lines have shifted to cyberspace, where disinformation and fake accounts are weaponized to disrupt relationships and sow discord among nations. Recent revelations from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have exposed the extent of coordinated campaigns targeting Algeria, particularly those aimed at undermining its relations with Arab partners, most notably Saudi Arabia.
These campaigns, with a significant portion originating from Morocco, raise serious questions about the motivations behind Rabat’s deployment of online influence operations to create division among Arab states. Is this a deliberate strategy to destabilize regional alliances and exert influence through digital manipulation?
A new ‘About this profile’ feature launched by X on November 22, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the world of cyber warfare. For the first time, users can access detailed information about accounts, including creation date, original location, username change history, and activity patterns indicating bot-like behavior. This newfound transparency has quickly exposed the scale of systematic campaigns targeting Algeria for years, revealing organized networks operating from specific countries and regions, with Morocco being a prominent source.
One striking example uncovered by the feature is the account ‘Bander al-Tamimi,’ which for years had been used to disparage Algerians while posing as a Saudi citizen. The X feature exposed the account’s true origin: Morocco. This is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a broader pattern of fake accounts impersonating various Arab identities to spread discord, while being managed from centralized hubs in Rabat.
DZWatch has learned that diplomatic warnings regarding these activities were issued well before this digital exposure. Two years prior, the Saudi Ambassador to Algeria, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser al-Bussairi, cautioned against attempts to incite discord between the two nations. His statements alluded to external actors seeking to damage the strong ties between Algeria and Saudi Arabia, a warning that now appears prescient in light of the recent revelations.
The implications of these findings are significant. They highlight the need for increased vigilance and cooperation among Arab nations to counter the threat of digital interference and protect their relationships from manipulation. The Algerian government has yet to officially comment on the matter, but DZWatch sources suggest that the issue is being taken very seriously at the highest levels.
