Algeria Recoils, Tolerates Military Cooperation Between Sahel Countries, Foreign Forces

Algeria has “suddenly” admitted the right of Sahel countries to coordinate with foreign forces in bid to counter terrorism.

The North African country has been rejecting any foreign interference in the region, provoked thus discontentment among Sahel countries which believe that Algeria is not “seriously” fighting terrorism.

Responding to such critics, Minister of Interior Dahou Ould Kablia told reporters, at the sidelines of the 4th session of Algeria Niger bilateral border committee being held in Algiers, that “the spirit of history responsibility” of authorities of the Sahel counties to assure stability and security, consecrate “the total liberty for these countries to cooperate with foreign countries, either in the field of counterterrorism or socioeconomic development in the region.”

It worth to recall that the Sahel FMs meeting of Algiers in 2010 recommended to avoid any foreign intervention in the region, under the cover of countering terrorism. This meeting paved the way to the set up of a joint military intervention force based in Tamnrasset, southern Algeria, and also a joint intelligence unit. 

Niger Minister of Defense had alredy criticized Algeria position that rejects the presence of a foreign military force in the Sahel to counter terrorism, urging the North African nation to play fully its key role as being the largest force in the region, including sending its military troops to neighboring countries to track down terrorists. Responding to this suggestion, a military official attended the meeting said the constitution of Algeria bans any military operations beyond borders.

Elsewhere, in his allocution at the start of the 4th Session of Algeria Niger Bilateral Border Committee, Niger Minister of Defense Abdou Labo was quoted by the local APS news agency as saying that “the the sub regional territories of Algeria and Niger are facing new forms of threats, including, terrorism, trans- border crime, arm and narcotic trafficking, which seriously affect peace and social stability, and dangerously damaging socio-economic development.”