Algeria-Russia Interference in Sahel Prompts Security Concerns

Rabat – Amid an already fragile situation in the region, Russia is desperate to expand its presence in the Sahel — a region frequently described as a “safe haven” for terrorist groups. 

Security challenges and international interference have been prompting concerns among political observers in the international community. In conversation with Morocco World News, Political analyst Lahcen Haddad pointed to Algeria’s partnership with Russia as a particular threat to stability in the region.

In Burkina Faso, several videos over the first weekend of October showed army members waving Russian flags and chanting slogans in support of Russia.

The videos were shared during Saturday’s coup d’etat in Burkina Faso, where Army Captain Ibrahim Traore took charge and dissolved the transitional government.

Military officers led by Traore ousted President Damiba, accusing him of focusing on “politics” more than addressing security challenges. The coup is the second of its kind in eight months.

Several countries are warning their citizens from traveling to Burkina Faso, which has become the epicenter of terror attacks led by ISIS and Al-Qaeda groups. One of the most recent attacks took place on June 11, when more than 100 people were murdered in a terror attack in Seytenga.

Numerous reports suggested that the US has been examining Russia’s connection to the first coup d’etat that took place in January of this year.

Voice of America, a US-based news outlet released a report in January 2022 that the US was “aware of allegations of Russian links to [the] Burkinabe coup.” 

The report also recalled a statement by a Russian military official, who offered Russia’s military expertise to the Burkinabe army.

Alexander Ivanov, the representative of Russian military trainers in the Central African Republic conveyed his country’s readiness to offer training to the Burkinabe military.

Spokesperson of the US Defense Department Cindi King acknowledged that the US has been looking into Russia’s potential involvement in the coup. The White House failed to provide evidence of whether the claims in the reports were true.

In July, Foreign Policy issued an analysis, suggesting that Russia’s “mercenary” Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor that has been active across the world, could make its way to Burkina Faso.

Foreign Policy based their analysis on a statement from two US intelligence officials, who said that Burkina Faso could be the Russian group’s next target, particularly following the first coup in January.

“We assess that in the immediate to midterm, it is most likely going to be Burkina Faso that would reach out to Wagner and potentially request support,” one of the US intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Political analyst Lahcen Haddad told Morocco World News that Russia’s goal is to control the Sahel “through robust, Wagner-style” counter-terrorism operations.

With the help of Algeria

Some political observers warned that Russia’s Wagner intrusion in Burkina Faso could not be done without Algeria, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s largest partners.

Meanwhile, Algeria buys its military equipment from Russia, a situation that has prompted concerns among US officials.

Last week, 27 congress members addressed a bipartisan letter to Secretary Blinken to express their concern and warning about the ever-growing ties between Russia and Algeria.

“Last year alone, Algeria finalized an arms purchase with Russia that totaled over $7 billion,” the letter read.

The letter called on the US to put immediate sanctions on Algeria for its involvement in purchasing arms from Russia, which is desperate to push for additional arms deals amid the Ukraine conflict.

“Already with the putsch in January 2022 in Burkina Faso, the hand of Russia was felt. Two days ago, Russian flags were waved after the new coup in this Sahelian country,” Haddad argued.

The analyst pointed out the Algeria-Russian alliance by recalling recent maneuvers on the borders with Morocco and Mali, emphasizing that such events “confirm the strategic military vision of both Russia and Algeria.”

“The West is busy with energy supplies, the war in Ukraine, whereas Russia is entering the African continent through the big door,” he added.

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The analyst, who served as former Minister of Tourism, argued that Algeria does not only indirectly finance the Russian war in Ukraine through its arms deals, but is also sparing no efforts to assist Putin’s regime to solidify its presence in Mali and now Burkina Faso.

“Algeria becomes key to Russian designs in the Sahel region,” Haddad concluded.

Algeria has long declined to engage in joint actions to tackle security threats in the Sahel.

In April, Head of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) Habboub Cherkaoui renewed Morocco’s concerns regarding Algeria’s reluctance to collaborate with Morocco to fight against terrorism.

Cherkaoui said Algerian security services decline to cooperate, although their country shares direct borders with Mali and Niger, two major hott spots in the for Sahel confrontation with armed militias and terrorist groups.