Algiers Counterterrorism Conference to Discuss the “Libyan Arms” Issue

Algeria is hosting an international conference on counterterrorism in the Sahel and the Sahara, in early September, with the participation of the United States, Russia, Britain, Italy, France and China, in addition to Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

The conference has been recommended in Bamako meeting, held recently by Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania.

The Bamako meeting has concluded by setting up roadmap cooperation between the Sahel countries and their partners in order to boost capacities of the countries of the region in terms of counter terrorism.

Algiers conference will be marked by the participation of the five permanent member countries in the UN Security Council, and some UN bodies, including counterterrorism committee, in addition to other financial institutions, including the World Bank and the Arab Bank for Development.

Algiers Conference coincides with radical changes occurring in the region which affected the security and the stability not only in the region, but also in the territorial and international levels. The conference is yet to discuss the issue of the “Libyan arms,” as reports have recurrently indicated that terror groups have likely put hands on, by trading with arms traffickers. 

Algeria bids on such a conference to boost counterterrorism cooperation with some Sahel countries, regarding the increasing threat of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). However, Algeria is yet to explain her vision on the stability and the security of the region and the relationship of terrorism with organised crime, poverty and development deficit.