How to save the Sahel

Notes internacionals CIDOB, núm. 60

- Growing turmoil in the Sahel meets with disunity in North Africa and lack of EU policy

- Algeria refuses to accept that foreign powers should meddle with the affairs of the region – hence its extreme reticence in the face of last year’s successful campaign to topple a much despised neighbour, Colonel Gaddafi.

- The troubling turn of events in the Sahel would not only threaten the stability of Algeria and Morocco, a weakened Tunisia and a still unstable Libya, but Europe.

- Failure of action on bolstering regional unity in the face of multiple threats will only encourage the likes of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar Dine or “the supporters of faith” to gain sway over broader areas of the Sahel, just as American drones redouble their patrols over eastern Libya and likely elsewhere.

- After their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and considering the insecurity they have left in the wake of intervening in Libya and then quickly leaving, the US, France and the United Kingdom would be well advised to refrain from trying to play the grand game in the Sahel region.

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