Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene

: HASSAN MASIKY; 10/04/12

Washington / Morocco News Board--- News of White House “secret meetings to examine the threat posed by al-Qaeda’s franchise in North Africa and consider for the first time whether to prepare for unilateral strikes” as reported by the Washington Post in its Tuesday’s edition dispelled Algeria’s attempts to portray the American position in Mali as compatible with Algiers’s.

Since the publication in the Algerian press of General Carter F. Ham, chief of U.S. Africa Command, comments stating that the United States have “no plans for U.S. direct military intervention” in the Sahel, Algerian officials and press have been working feverishly to interpret Washington and London positions in the Malian crisis as being against military intervention in Northern Mali. But as the Washington Post article demonstrates clearly, Algeria stands today alone in the Sahel.

The Algerian Government misread Gen. Ham ‘comments. Unlike the Algerian policy opposing a foreign intervention in Northern Mali, the American position is open to all eventualities including military efforts to neutralize terror groups in the Sahel. In fact, the American military “has been conducting has launched a series of clandestine intelligence missions, including the use of civilian aircraft to conduct surveillance flights and monitor communications over the Sahara Desert and the arid region to the south, known as the Sahel’ according to the Washington Post.

Feeling the heat form public criticism of its military’s handling of the kidnapping of Algerian diplomats by a terror group based in Northern Mali, the Algerian government is trying to convince the Algerian public that Algeria’s appeals have an international backing.

But in a clear rebuff to Algeria’s calls, Bamako and ECOWAS (a regional Block of West African countries) recently agreed on the deployment of African troops to Mali with the help of outside experts including French and Americans. Similarly, during last meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Niger foreign minister stated during his speech that “only an armed intervention supported by friendly powers could eradicate insecurity in the region.”

Algeria’s wait and see approach in Mali has collapsed, especially in light of the terror attack against the US consulate in Benghazi, the decision by Mali to ask for outside help and the intense French diplomatic efforts to secure the backing of, a reluctant, United Nations for a Military intervention to chase armed groups from Northern Mali.

Algerian setbacks in Sahel stared with the Algerian military failed attempt to form a counter-terrorism front that excluded key countries in North Africa. The Algeria designed and chaired Committee of Joint Staffs (Cémoc) ( also known as the Tamanrasset group that includes Sahel countries and Algeria) has been missing on the diplomatic and military scenes in Mali and is presumed dead. In the other hand, the ECOWAS forces are united in their decision to send forces to secure Northern Mali including the borders with Algeria.

While the Algerian government continues to oppose a military intervention in Mali, its Foreign Minister lacks a non-military alternative to resolving the crisis. Algeria, wary of foreign forces on its borders, lost its influence and political power once it refused to address Mali’s concerns regarding the potential impacts of a lingering Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) presence on the borders between the two countries.

Because of Algeria’s apprehension about the potential rise of nationalism among its own ethnic Touareg if a Malian Touareg entity survives the current situation, ECOWAS countries view Algerian efforts with misgivings. In a recent candid declaration, the Malian Prime Minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra, criticized his powerful neighbor saying, “Algeria seeks to protect its men, even if it means sacrificing the people of Mali. [Algeria] should not feel obliged to get involved in a military operation; Mali has not asked anything of [Algeria]."

As the United States and France coordinate a balanced and coordinated military action to help regional militaries confront armed groups in Mali and the ECOWAS forces are on standby ready to move on the rebels, Algeria elects to negotiate with Ansar Dine, a group that Algerians and Western observers consider a terror group. The Algerian press has reported in recent days that Algerian Military Intelligence is holding secret meetings with Ansar Dine.

Algeria bipolar and disoriented policy in Mali is a byproduct of Algiers dangerous strategy of “domestication” of” Islamist” armed groups on its soil. AQIM, the chief sponsor of all armed groups controlling Northern Mali, is an Algerian group born in Algeria and exported to Mali. Now, it is the turn of ECOWAS, the French and the American to secure Algerian borders from this Algerian creation.

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Comments (8)

0 #1 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali, As West Prepares To Intervene — A Lake 2012-10-04 13:41

The Algerian government is not the only party misinterpreting the U.S.'s intentions in the region. The article title says "West prepares to intervene," then the statement of Gen. Ham in the lede says the U.S. has no plans for direct intervention. The military activity described here and in the Post article is nothing new and exactly what has been going on in the Sahara and Sahel for years under the leadership of the U.S. Africa Command. The only difference now is that we are hearing more about it.

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+2 #2 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene — riffi 2012-10-04 23:38

The trips of general Ham to morocco first is to inform morocco to be ready to facilitate the goulmim AFB for the use of the drone.the trip to algeria is to let them know the USA will be using goulmim as drone base with the blessing of Morocco, general Ham trip back to morocco is to inform the Moroccan armed forces algeria was informed and they won't lift finger.so now what Algerian junta?? Keep dragging your feet.The US doesn't play with terrorist hide and seek

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-1 #3 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene — Algeria 2012-10-05 11:13

Funny, how our Moroccan friends don't miss an occasion to criticize Algeria and is policies:)
The best part of the article is "Algerian setbacks in Sahel stared with the Algerian military failed attempt to form a counter-terrori sm front that excluded key countries in North Africa" why don;t you just say Morocco.

What i really don't understand is why Morocco want to be part of the Sahel countries to combat terrorism, while in the same time turns the blind eye on the Spanish occupation of Septa melila and the rest of the Islands few yards from your coasts and what adds insult to injury is the recent signing of a "strategic alliance "

On a side note, no words from Mr. Masskey in regards of the acceptance of return of Mr. Ross:)

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0 #4 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene — Morcelli 2012-10-05 11:57

Instead of pressing Spain regarding the Sahara as opposed to Ceuta and Mellilia, here is what the prime minister says:

On ne peut pas rencontrer nos homologues espagnols sans parler du Sahara. Mais ce n'est pas le moment opportun de faire des déclarations sur le sujet, a estimé devant la presse M. Benkirane, issu du parti islamiste Justice et développement (PJD).

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+1 #5 @Algerian — S Hass 2012-10-05 17:24

This little Algerian is upset cos the articul has mentioned his beloved Algeria!!!!. Well when will you realize that your old evil Algerian tricks will never works(Algeria is always hoping Morocco will one day open a war with Spain for Ceuta etc ), you may fool some polizibal but not us sorry , Algeria soon will start to feel the heat down under ( Mali ) then see what boutiflika will do ( nothing of course ). I for one do not wish to open the borders with you . Regards from Tetouan, Adios amigo

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0 #6 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene — Morcelli 2012-10-05 19:03

I personally do not think that Sebta and Mellilia should ever go back to Morocco. My reasoning is very simple, we have an authoritarian regime and the people of these 2 enclaves enjoy freedom and some sort o prosperity why would I want them to come back to Morocco to live in the Jungle under the rule of the plus fort?
Many will say that's double standards, why don I want the same thing for the Sahraouis? My reasoning on this one is also very simple. The Sahraouis are also under an authoritarian regime in the camps of Tindouf and beyond and frankly I do not see why we should reward Algeria for screwing with us for 40 years. Algeria is the devil in all this and if they think that they will get an inch of the Sahara, they are big time mistaking.

As for Morocco wanting to get involved in the Sahel to prevent Algeria from taking the lead in "combating" terrorism is a dumb idea. Morocco should combat terrorism in their commissariats and moqata3as. Last week United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez accused Moroccan authorities of "Severe beatings, sexual violence, and other forms of ill-treatment appear to be on the rise"

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+2 #7 Algeria's lack of transparency — Aminaa 2012-10-07 14:50

We all know that Al-Qaeda movement (AQIM) is a legacy of the Algerian civil war in the 1990s (Salafist Group), and Algeria's "double-game" is no more a secret in Sahel! Algeria's lack of transparency and refusal to define CLEARLY its interests in the Mali situation is becoming more and more ridiculous, and now let's see how Algeria will deal with the ECOWAS intervention, which means more French Military Flood in Sahel region, exactly what Algeria was avoiding many years ago.

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0 #8 RE: Algeria Isolated On Mali As West Prepares To Intervene — hamoudi 2012-10-30 16:55

i think the usa is searching for oil in the sahel region ,and algerian's opposition to american interests it's the right way to do.as for the terrorism is a creation of america and saudi arabia together. rahmani

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