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Algeria, West Africa
Algiers strives to return to centre stage in the Sahel

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“The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado”

Sahel

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

As the Sahel security crisis worsens, with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) increasingly active, the states in the region find themselves in an ever more vulnerable position. In an attempt to stem the flow of jihadist propaganda which now risks overflowing into the coastal states, a number of security operations have been launched, among them Operation Barkhane, the G5 Sahel joint force, MINUSMA, and the Coalition for the Sahel. [...]

Smaïl Chergui, Africa Union peace and security commissioner. © Reuters

Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been trying for several weeks to bring his influence to bear on the situation in the Sahel. He is relying particularly on African Union peace and security commissioner Smaïl Chergui, who is leading an intense lobbying operation in favour of deployment of a 3,000-strong AU force in the region. [...]

Published on 08.06.2020 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Diplomacy

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Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmalek Droukdel
African Union
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Boualem Chebihi
Coalition for the Sahel
G5 Sahel
Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele
Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin
Mahamat Moussa Faki
Malian Armed Forces
Nouakchott Process
Operation Barkhane
Operation Serval
Said Chanegriha
Smail Chergui
West African Economic and Monetary Union

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Algiers and Rabat jostle for influence in the Sahel

Since the 18 August Mali coup and with tensions flaring over Western Sahara, the Sahel has become the new stage for Algeria and Morocco's battle for influence.

Subscriber Diplomacy 19.03.2021

Bah N'Daw hosted by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad on 13 March.

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3,000-strong African Union force in Sahel abandoned

The project spearheaded by the African Union's former peace and security commissioner Smaïl Chergui to create a pan-African force of 3,000 men looks like being dropped by his successor Bankole Adeoye, who is nevertheless keen for the AU to play a central role in the Sahel as France prepares for a "substantial" troop withdrawal this summer.

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Algeria reaps what sowed from its eastern European wheat purchases

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Mali
Operation Barkhane strengthens its emergency care capacity

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Mali, United Kingdom
Barkhane's British contingent worried about Mali developments

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Rabat reaches out to post-coup Bamako

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Morocco's ambassador to Mali Hassan Naciri and CNSP president Assimi Goita met in Bamako on 25 August 2020.

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Italian ambassador to Niger Marco Prencipe with Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini on 19 June, 2020.

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Subscriber Diplomacy 18.06.2020

Algeria, Mali
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Time's up: Nigeria set to end Algeria's lock on top African Union security post

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The last African Union summit in February 2020.

Algeria
Ambassador Driencourt set to leave his post amid diplomatic tensions

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Subscriber Diplomacy 05.06.2020

The French ambassador in Algiers Xavier Driencourt.

Set up email notifications for these topics

Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmalek Droukdel
African Union
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Boualem Chebihi
Coalition for the Sahel
G5 Sahel
Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele
Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin
Mahamat Moussa Faki
Malian Armed Forces
Nouakchott Process
Operation Barkhane
Operation Serval
Said Chanegriha
Smail Chergui
West African Economic and Monetary Union

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Algeria, West Africa
Algiers strives to return to centre stage in the Sahel