French newspaper: Algeria loses its influence in the African Sahel

The French newspaper “Le Figaro” reported under the headline “Deteriorating relations between Algeria and its coastal surroundings” indicating rapid shifts in relations between Algeria and its neighboring countries.

Tensions between Algeria and Mali have escalated since the military coup in Mali, with Algeria accused of interfering in Mali’s internal affairs, while Niger’s interim prime minister accused Algeria of trying to manipulate the new authority in Niamey.

With regard to Mali, the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated significantly, with Algerian officials pointing to Mali’s rejection of mediation proposals and its request for the withdrawal of UN forces from the region, which led to the non-implementation of the agreement signed in 2015 to end the war between Bamako and armed groups in northern Mali that has lasted since 2012.

With Niger, the relationship between Algeria and the country has also been strained, with the transitional prime minister sharply criticizing Algeria, accusing it of trying to interfere in their internal affairs.

In light of these developments, former Algerian Minister of Communications Abdelaziz Rahabi expresses concern about the “impotence of Algerian diplomacy”, stressing the need to avoid the worsening of the crisis and seek diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflicts in the region.

Tensions between Algeria and its neighbours are rising amid growing fears of the worsening crisis and its impact on the stability of the entire region, and the complexity of the political and security situation in the Sahel region.

The Security Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday following the International Court of Justice’s decision regarding the war in Gaza