Mali and Niger have intensified their warnings about Algeria’s alleged role in exporting terrorism into the Sahel, pointing to evidence of state-backed support for armed groups operating near their borders.
At a recent regional security forum in Senegal, officials from Bamako and Niamey refrained from explicitly naming Algeria in their condemnations. Yet their remarks closely mirrored years of accusations from Mali, which accuses Algiers of serving as a rear base for terrorist factions that destabilize northern Mali. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop emphasized the threat posed by neighboring states that “harbor or enable hostile forces” targeting Sahelian nations, though he stopped short of direct attribution.
Security experts trace the roots of modern Sahel terrorism to Algeria’s 1990s civil war, when defeated militant factions regrouped and expanded operations southward. The evolution of groups like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) from Algeria’s Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC)—itself a descendant of the Armed Islamic Group—illustrates this shift. Many of these networks were led by Algerian operatives who relocated to Mali and the Sahara under military pressure at home.
Algeria’s alleged covert ties to Sahel militants
Persistent reports suggest collusion between Algerian intelligence and certain Sahel-based terrorist factions. Mali has publicly condemned these ties at the United Nations, particularly after relations with Algeria deteriorated sharply last year. The dispute centers on northern Mali, where armed groups and Tuareg separatists have clashed with the Malian government for over a decade. Bamako claims these militants exploit Algeria’s lenient border policies to evade counterterrorism efforts.
diplomatic escalation after drone incident
Tensions peaked in late March when Algerian forces intercepted a Malian military drone near the shared border. Bamako condemned the act as a deliberate move to shield terrorist leaders targeted by Malian operations. In retaliation, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso withdrew their ambassadors from Algiers and issued a joint statement accusing Algeria of sponsoring terrorism.
Niger has consistently sided with Mali in these disputes. General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s military leader, has accused foreign governments of funding attacks against his country. Niamey’s alignment with Bamako reflects a growing regional perception of Algeria as a destabilizing force in the Sahel.
Sahel’s fractured security alliance
This dispute underscores a growing divide among West African military regimes, who argue that terrorism cannot be defeated while neighboring states continue to enable militant activities. Algeria’s perceived permissiveness toward armed factions operating near its borders has fueled mistrust and strained diplomatic ties across the region.
