Algeria, a key player for sustainable peace in the Sahel

Abstract

The crisis in the Sahel is serious and multidimensional and, if not stopped, could have consequences far beyond the region, as states in the region are too poor and weak to deal with it alone. The problem, however, is that current international approaches and interventions in the Sahel are more in line with short-term external priorities, such as stopping irregular migration to Europe. There is no doubt that the migration crisis in the Sahel is a crisis that needs to be addressed, and we certainly need a security approach to several of the insurgencies. However, it needs to be part of a much broader agenda of humanitarian assistance and development support that takes into account context and conflicts. Algeria has traditionally always been a key player in stability in the African Sahel, which continues to face crucial challenges and significant threats. As a regional power, Algeria has interests in the Sahel due to geographical contiguity, strategic depth and historical ties.