| Abstract: | In the past few years, the countries of the Sahel region have been increasingly affected by the activities of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). This geographical shift of AQIM was the result both of a weakening of AQIM within Algeria, due to the tough counter-terrorist measures adopted by the Algerian government, and of the "business opportunities" and the wider operational freedom offered by the Sahelian environment. This is not only a great threat to security of the Sahel, but also affects the balance of the Maghreb key forces. In this context, gaining a position of primacy in the Sahel and in the fight against terrorism in the region could be used by Algeria as a tool of influence in the wider area of the Maghreb. Bolstering its role as a "security provider" in the Sahel is instrumental for Algeria's overall foreign policy ambitions. |
