In 1991, the government of the United States said it had unearthed details of the alleged construction of a nuclear reactor in Algeria.^[1] The Washington Times accused the country of developing nuclear weapons with the help of the Chinese government.^[1] The Algerian government admitted it was building a reactor, but denied any secrecy or military purpose.^[1] Surveillance from U.S. satellites also suggested that the reactor would not be used for military purposes.^[1] China had secretly made an agreement in 1983 to assist Algeria in developing a nuclear reactor.^[1]

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In November 1991, succumbing to international pressure, Algeria placed the reactor under IAEA safeguards.^[1] Algeria signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 1995, and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention^[2] In August 2001, Algeria acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention.^[3] Algeria signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 20 September 2017, but has not ratified it as of August 2022^[update].^[4]