Morocco-Algeria rivalry escalates in the Sahel with competing strategies

The Maghreb neighbors are competing with projects and announcements aimed at the countries of the region. While Algiers struggles with a deficit in image and influence, Rabat has managed to build a certain level of goodwill. However, expectations are high, and both countries are under close scrutiny.

On November 6, 2023, during his speech commemorating the 48th anniversary of the Green March, King Mohammed VI of Morocco unveiled the country’s new geopolitical strategy: improving Sahelian countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean. This initiative, dubbed the "Atlantic Initiative", aims to foster economic integration and connectivity for Sahelian nations.

A month and a half later, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hosted his counterparts from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad in Marrakech to coordinate efforts on this ambitious plan. While still in its early stages of discussion and studies, the initiative is already seen by Algeria as a direct challenge to its own longstanding ambition of securing access to the Atlantic, according to a detailed report by Jeune Afrique.

This Moroccan outreach to the Sahel has intensified the decades-long rivalry between Rabat and Algiers, extending it well beyond the Western Sahara dispute. Algeria has responded by announcing initiatives of its own. 

On February 13, 2024, during a virtual address to the 41st meeting of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune revealed plans to create free trade zones with Sahelian countries, starting with Mauritania, Mali, and Niger, as well as Tunisia and Libya.

Tebboune also emphasized Algeria’s other continental infrastructure projects, including the Trans-Saharan Highway, linking six African countries, and the Tindouf-Zouérat road (Algeria-Mauritania). However, progress on these projects has been slow, with only one commercial free zone operational, located 75 kilometers south of Tindouf.

As Jeune Afrique highlights, Algeria has historically viewed the Sahel as its strategic backyard, akin to how France regards the region. For four decades, Algeria wielded considerable influence in the Sahel, driven by security concerns and its pivotal role as a mediator in conflicts such as the 1991 Tamanrasset Agreement and the 2015 Algiers Accords.

However, Algeria’s focus shifted inward following the 2013 stroke of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the subsequent Hirak protest movement (2019–2021). 

During this period, Morocco accelerated its diplomatic engagement with Africa, notably under King Mohammed VI, whose strategy has been to strengthen economic and political ties across the continent.

Contrasting approaches to the Sahel

Morocco’s strategy emphasizes economic integration and development, seeking to position itself as a gateway to the Atlantic for landlocked Sahelian countries. This vision has been warmly received by leaders in the region, who view connectivity as essential for fostering growth and reducing reliance on Algeria.

In contrast, Algeria’s approach to the Sahel has remained predominantly security-focused, reflecting its concerns about destabilization along its southern borders. According to Jeune Afrique, Algerian authorities have historically viewed the Sahel as a source of potential threats, including terrorism and separatist movements.

The Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali, for example, is seen as a major concern for Algeria, given its own Tuareg population and the proximity of these conflicts to Algeria’s energy-rich southern provinces. 

Algeria’s mediatory role in regional conflicts, such as its leadership in establishing the Cemoc (Joint Operational Chiefs of Staff Committee) to combat terrorism, underscores its security-driven priorities.

The growing geostrategic rivalry between Morocco and Algeria in the Sahel represents a broader struggle for regional leadership. Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative and Algeria’s renewed engagement through free trade zones and infrastructure projects highlight their competing visions for the region’s future.

While Morocco’s approach focuses on economic connectivity and integration, Algeria’s strategy remains centered on security and stability, reflecting the differing priorities and historical trajectories of the two nations.

The Sahel has become a pivotal battleground for influence between these North African powers, with implications that extend far beyond the region itself. This intensifying competition underscores the importance of regional stability and cooperation in addressing the Sahel’s complex challenges.