According to the newspaper Le Monde and journalist Frédéric Bobin, Algeria might seize the opportunity presented by the crisis in Niamey and the waning French influence to reengage in the Sahel region.
An Algerian Mediation Endeavor? Since the coup in Niamey on July 26th, Algerian authorities have been carefully crafting a balanced stance—supporting ousted President Mohamed Bazoum while steadfastly opposing foreign intervention. This middle-ground approach could potentially grant Algeria a role in seeking a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s unequivocal offer was evident in his statements to the Algerian press on Saturday, August 5th: “We are ready to assist [the Nigeriens] in uniting.”
As a powerhouse in the sub-region, neighboring Niger and Mali and sharing deep strategic interests, Algeria presents a profile as a potential mediator acceptable to all involved parties. Criticizing French interventionism in Africa yet maintaining amicable relations with the United States, Algeria seems well-positioned to take on this role. The ongoing visit of Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf to Washington, where he is set to meet with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, may provide an opportunity to synchronize American and Algerian approaches to the Niger crisis. President Tebboune asserted, “There will be no solution without us. We are the primary stakeholders.”
Starting from July 26th, Algiers promptly “strongly condemned” the “attempted coup” in Niamey, urging an “immediate cessation of this unacceptable assault on the constitutional order.”
By adopting a middle-ground position and offering mediation in the Niger crisis, Algeria is making an active effort to play a role in resolving this intricate situation. By engaging constructively and leveraging its geographic proximity and international relations, Algeria could contribute to peaceful resolutions for regional issues. Coordination with the United States, especially during the Algerian Foreign Minister’s visit to Washington, could pave the way for a joint approach in pursuing stability in the Sahel sub-region.