Algeria is making a determined push to reclaim its waning diplomatic clout in the Sahel, rolling out a series of strategic moves toward Mali and Niger designed to counter Morocco’s expanding footprint in the region. After a prolonged standoff with Bamako, Algiers recently restored full diplomatic ties and reopened its airspace to Malian aircraft, signaling a fresh chapter in relations. Meanwhile, with Niamey, the cooperation has deepened significantly—marked by military support, revived oil projects, and joint crude marketing initiatives.
The timing of these overtures is no coincidence. As Morocco strengthens its economic and diplomatic ties with the Sahel’s Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—Algeria faces the risk of losing ground it once dominated. The stakes are high: Alger shares over 1,300 kilometers of border with Mali alone, making regional stability a matter of national security. But beyond geography, the rivalry with Rabat has turned into a high-stakes contest for political leverage across West Africa.
Rapprochement with Mali: A delicate reset after fifteen months of rupture
After a crisis that saw ambassadors recalled and accusations of airspace violations fly between Algiers and Bamako, the two capitals have now chosen a path of reconciliation. On July 10, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reinstated Ambassador Kamal Retieb in Bamako, while Mali simultaneously returned its envoy to Algiers and reopened its airspace to Algerian aircraft—both civilian and military. This thaw followed months of diplomatic paralysis after Bamako distanced itself from the 2015 peace accord and tensions flared over a drone incident near Tinzaouaten in April 2025.
The turning point came in early August, when Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga spoke of a “total convergence of views” with Algeria on “respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.” For Algiers, this wasn’t just about mending fences—it was about regaining a seat at the table in shaping the future of the western Sahel. Observers note that Niger, a key ally of Algeria, played a behind-the-scenes role in facilitating this rapprochement, underscoring the regional dimensions of the shift.
Niger emerges as Algeria’s strategic partner in the Sahel
Where Mali represents a cautious diplomatic reset, Niger has become the centerpiece of Algeria’s resurgence strategy. In a bold move on August 9, Algiers delivered four military helicopters to Niger’s armed forces—two Mi-24V attack helicopters and two Mi-171 transport choppers—complete with spare parts, maintenance equipment, and ammunition. Days later, Algeria’s prime minister traveled to Niamey to inaugurate drilling operations at the Kafra Sud-Est 1 exploration well, while Sonatrach and Niger’s Société nigérienne des produits pétroliers (Sonidep) launched their first joint sale of Nigerien crude oil.
This three-pronged approach—security, energy, and economic cooperation—reflects Algeria’s intent to embed itself more deeply in the Sahel through tangible, long-term commitments. The partnership, described by both governments as “strategic and irreversible,” now spans energy, security, transport, health, finance, and infrastructure. It’s a far cry from the vague diplomatic overtures of the past, offering Niamey real incentives to align with Algiers over other regional players.
Morocco’s shadow: Why Algeria’s comeback is a race against time
The resurgence of Algerian influence in the Sahel isn’t happening in a vacuum. Morocco, long sidelined in the region, has methodically built its own network of alliances, leveraging political diplomacy, religious outreach, infrastructure investments, and Atlantic-facing trade. The kingdom has scored key diplomatic wins, including Mali’s withdrawal of recognition for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in April and vocal support for Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. For Algeria, this is not just about losing ground in the Sahel—it’s about ceding ground in a broader geopolitical battle over Africa’s stance on the Sahara issue.
Analysts at the Institute for Security Studies and International Crisis Group have both highlighted the asymmetry in how the two North African rivals are perceived. While Algeria commands formidable military strength and energy wealth, its influence has failed to match its resources. Morocco, by contrast, has cultivated interdependencies through banks, telecoms, fertilizers, religious education, and major infrastructure projects. The result? Rabat’s gains are increasingly irreversible, turning Algeria’s current efforts into a desperate—but necessary—attempt to recover lost ground.
Can Algeria turn the tide before it’s too late?
Algeria’s strategy in the Sahel today is less about expanding influence and more about reclaiming what it once held. The approach combines traditional levers—diplomacy and security—with new ones: hydrocarbons, infrastructure, and arms exports. The gas pipeline project and joint oil ventures are meant to rival Morocco’s economic inroads, while military support is framed as a counterterrorism partnership against shared threats.
Yet the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The relationship with Burkina Faso remains tentative, and even with Mali and Niger, trust is fragile. Algeria’s response to Morocco’s rise is reactive, shaped more by frustration than innovation. A sustainable comeback would require offering the Sahel states a compelling alternative—not just one that counters Rabat, but one that delivers tangible benefits in governance, development, and stability. For now, Algiers is playing catch-up, and time is not on its side.
