After fifteen months of strained relations with Bamako, Algiers has moved swiftly to restore diplomatic ties with Mali and deepen cooperation with Niamey. The Algerian government recently reopened its airspace to Malian aircraft and delivered four military helicopters to Niger, alongside joint oil ventures. These overtures come as Morocco strengthens its economic and diplomatic footprint across the Sahel, prompting Algiers to act before Rabat’s gains become irreversible.
Over the past weeks, Algeria has taken decisive steps to mend fences with its southern neighbors. On July 10, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the return of Algerian Ambassador Kamal Retieb to Bamako, while Mali simultaneously reinstated its envoy to Algiers and reopened its airspace to Algerian flights. This normalization follows a prolonged diplomatic standoff that began with Mali’s denunciation of the 2015 peace accord and escalated after an Algerian military drone was destroyed near Tinzaouaten in April 2025. The crisis had led both nations to recall their ambassadors and triggered legal disputes at the International Court of Justice.
By early August, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga of Mali declared a “total convergence of views” with Algiers on sovereignty and non-interference—a clear sign that the rapprochement extends beyond mere diplomatic protocol. For Algeria, Mali holds strategic importance as the political core of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and its largest neighbor. Restoring ties here is crucial to reversing the erosion of Algerian influence in the region.
Niger emerges as Algeria’s key partner in the Sahel
Algeria’s engagement with Niamey has been even more pronounced. On August 9, Algiers delivered four helicopters—two Mi-24V combat choppers and two Mi-171 transport aircraft—along with spare parts, maintenance equipment, and ammunition to Niger’s armed forces. Days later, Algeria’s prime minister attended the launch of drilling operations for the Kafra Sud-Est 1 oil well, while Sonatrach and Niger’s Société nigérienne des produits pétroliers (Sonidep) announced their first joint crude oil sale. These moves underscore Algeria’s multi-pronged strategy: bolstering security, reviving energy projects, and fostering economic interdependence to secure a lasting presence in the Sahel.
Sahel states become battleground for regional influence
The shifting dynamics in the Sahel have created a high-stakes rivalry between Algiers and Rabat. The AES—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—has distanced itself from Western partners, forged closer ties with Moscow, and developed independent diplomatic and economic frameworks. Algeria now faces a dual challenge: regaining lost ground while countering Morocco’s expanding influence, which combines political alliances, religious outreach, infrastructure investments, and Atlantic-facing initiatives.
Analysts note that Morocco has capitalized on Algeria’s regional retreat. Since mid-2024, Bamako has withdrawn recognition of the Polisario Front’s self-proclaimed state, endorsing Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara instead. Meanwhile, the AES countries have steadily deepened relations with Morocco, complicating Algeria’s efforts to reclaim its historical role in the Sahel.
Bamako’s thaw with Algiers marks a turning point
The July 10 normalization with Mali represents Algeria’s most significant diplomatic reversal this year. After months of hostility, Bamako’s decision to restore ambassadors and airspace links signals a willingness to re-engage. The subsequent declaration of “total convergence” suggests the thaw extends beyond logistics—it opens avenues for Algeria to rejoin discussions on Sahel security and political futures. Observers highlight the role of Niger and Moscow in facilitating this détente, underscoring the interconnected nature of regional diplomacy.
Algeria’s strategy: security, energy, and infrastructure
Algeria’s approach in Niger exemplifies its broader playbook. Since March, the Algeria-Niger High-Level Joint Commission has prioritized energy, security, transportation, healthcare, finance, and infrastructure. Both governments labeled their relationship “strategic and irreversible”, pledging a “fully renewed partnership.” The helicopter donation and joint oil ventures add tangible substance to these commitments. Yet challenges remain, as infrastructure projects grapple with logistical and financial hurdles.
For Algeria, the stakes are clear. With over 1,300 kilometers of border shared with Mali and long frontiers with Niger, instability in these countries directly threatens Algerian security. While military cooperation remains vital, economic and energy leverage—such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline—are now essential to sustain influence. Algeria’s strategy blends hard power with resource diplomacy, aiming to match Morocco’s economic inroads.
Morocco’s head start complicates Algeria’s rebound
Despite Algeria’s recent activity, Morocco’s early and sustained engagement in the Sahel poses a formidable obstacle. Bamako’s April decision to support Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara dealt a symbolic blow to Algiers, aligning Mali with Morocco’s narrative on a core dispute. The AES’s growing ties with Rabat—ranging from trade to military training—reflect a reality Algeria is scrambling to counter. For Algiers, the rivalry is no longer just about regional clout; it’s about preventing Morocco from turning Sahel partnerships into geopolitical capital.
A fragile recovery in the making
Algeria’s current push is less about expansion and more about damage control. After losing its mediator role in Mali and seeing Morocco expand its network, Algiers is racing to reclaim old positions. Niger serves as the flagship of this policy, with Mali as the diplomatic test case. Burkina Faso remains a secondary focus, with ties less visible but still noteworthy. The overarching goal is to recover influence—not for altruism, but to deny Morocco further gains. This reactive posture risks limiting Algeria’s impact, as its actions often appear designed to counter Rabat rather than offer independent value to Sahel states. A durable strategy would require presenting a distinct, compelling alternative rather than a reactionary one.
