Publications /
Policy Paper

Back
The Maghreb’s Outlook Towards the Sahel: An analysis of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania standpoints
Authors
Noamane Cherkaoui
Youssef Tobi
October 6, 2021

The Sahel has become more prominent in policymaking circles because of its strategic importance and the urgent nature of the dangers that have become rife in the region. Unfortunately, countries in the Maghreb have been relatively sidelined in recent years despite their potential sizable role in stabilizing the region and spurring economic development. Therefore, the focus of this brief is to analyze the Maghreb’s outlook towards the Sahel, namely from the perspective of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania.
Morocco has strong geopolitical interests in the region which are becoming an international gateway for business in Africa, increasing support for its stance on its southern provinces, counterbalancing its neighbor Algeria, and countering terrorism through multilateral security collaboration with West African countries and other partners. For Algeria, the Sahel will remain an important focus point. President Tebboune’s February 2020 speech at the African Union (AU) and Lamamra’s appointment as Foreign Minister indicated a strategic shift based on a refocusing on Africa. The Algerian establishment has diverging interests which include limiting Morocco’s regional sway, protecting its borders and perceived sphere of influence (Libya, Mali, Niger), and attempting to remain an influential actor in the region. Lastly, Mauritania is a key actor in terms of the Maghreb’s outlook towards the Sahel. The pervasive issues the region faces will need multilateral efforts, and Mauritania is well-positioned to be both involved in security frameworks and international development strategies. Indeed, in the words of its President Ould Ghazouani, “the situation of the region requires larger cooperation.”
Overall, Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania all have enduring historical, political, and economic ties with the Sahel. As the region has become subject to strong foreign influences, Maghreb countries also have, as presented in this policy paper, their own respective agendas and strategies.

RELATED CONTENT

  • September 28, 2023
    Bientôt disponible en vente sur Livremoi.   En présentant ces textes, publiés dans les plateformes du Policy Center for the New South, pour partie, et dans divers supports, pour l’autre, on découvre à leur lecture des sujets absents des sciences sociales nationales. Le premier défi que doit surmonter le chercheur marocain qui s’intéresse aux affaires militaires et de sécurité (AMS) est la sous-conceptualisation du domaine en raison du désintérêt des universités et du c ...
  • August 9, 2023
    يخصص مركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد حلقة برنامجه الأسبوعي "حديث الثلاثاء" لمناقشة العلاقات التي تربط الهند بمنطقة المغرب الكبير مع عبد السلام جلدي، باحث في العلاقات الدولية بمركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد كون التأثير الأوروبي أصبح يتلاشى لصالح القوى الأخرى، العالمية والناشئة عل...
  • April 14, 2023
    Geographical proximity, historical ties, and cultural and social exchanges largely account for Italy’s enduring engagement with the Maghreb. Abdessalam Jaldi, International Relations Spec ...
  • April 10, 2023
    This policy paper examines India’s growing engagement in North Africa, focusing on five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Despite lacking a distinct regional policy for North Africa, India has amplified its bilateral engagement with these countries, underpinned by a steadfast commitment to the principle of South-South cooperation. Through its strategic moves in North Africa, India has established a powerful southern-west axis for its foreign policy that stretch ...
  • February 14, 2023
    تعتبر ملحمة الفريق الوطني المغربي خلال البطولة العالمية لكرة القدم بالدوحة 2022، حدثا رياضيا كبيرا، لكنه حدث يتجاوز الإطار الرياضي. يتعلق الأمر، كذلك، بحدث يهم المغرب طبعا، ولكنه يتجاوزه. لأن صداه كان عالميا. ولأنه كان مصدر فرح وبهجة عارمة وكذا اعتزاز كل الشعوب المغاربية والعربية والإفريقية، وبصفة عامة شعوب الجنوب، التي تملكت منجز فريقنا الوطني إلى الحد الذي اعتبرت أنه أصبح يمثلها. بالتالي، فهو فريق مغربي، أصبح بفضل منجزه، فريقا مغاربيا وعربيا وإفريقيا، وأصبح كأنه ينتمي إلى الجنوب ...
  • Authors
    January 27, 2023
    La Résolution adoptée à une majorité imposante par les élus européens à Strasbourg le 10 juin 2021 sur « la violation de la Convention des Nations unies relative aux droits de l'enfant et l'instrumentalisation des mineurs par les autorités dans la crise migratoire à Ceuta » (2021/2747/CRSP), ne pouvait que faire date. Décrypter la Résolution La Résolution avait choqué les Marocains au point qu'elle a été rapidement mise de côté sur le moment, comme si on voulait l'oublier le plus ...
  • December 30, 2022
    L’épopée de l’équipe marocaine lors de la Coupe du monde de football, à Doha en 2022, est un évènement immense, évidemment sportif, mais qui dépasse la sphère du sport. C’est un évènement qui concerne évidemment aussi le Maroc mais le dépasse. Son écho a été mondial. Il a été ressenti comme une source de joie, de ferveur et de fierté par les peuples maghrébins, arabes et africains, et plus généralement, par le Sud, qui se sont appropriés cette belle équipe et ...
  • Authors
    October 21, 2022
    This Policy Brief addresses the question of Europe's interest in the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project. The paper advances six arguments to support this interest and its relevance. 1) The project effectively diversifies European gas resources and provide greater scope for action. 2) Building the pipeline helps create a new generation of measures to curb the asymmetric risks Europe faces. 3) The project mitigates the risk of replacing European dependence on Russian gas with anothe ...
  • June 28, 2022
    ستتطرق هذه الحلقة الجديدة من برنامج حديث الثلاثاء الى العلاقة الثنائية المغربية الجزائرية عبر التركيز على المناطق الحدودية بين البلدين الجارين انطلاقا من وجهة نظر تاريخية علمية. فكيف تخبرنا الحدود عن طبيعة العلاقات بين البلدين الشقيقين؟ وكيف من الممكن ان نبني انطلاقا من هنا رؤية لمستقبل...