Morocco News Board
HASSAN MASIKY
Washington / Morocco News Board–It was surprising to hear the Republican candidate Mitt Romney mention Mali during the last Presidential debate. As an advocate for more American involvement in the Sahel long before the crisis in Northern Mali turned into an international hot spot worthy of a United Nations resolution advocating military interventions, one hopes to see Mr. Romney statements lead to more American presence in the region.
Governor Romney’s comments came on the heels of news that hundreds of armed militants from the Polisario camps in Algeria and Sudan have joined the ranks of Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel, according to Agence France Press.
During Monday’s debate, the Republican candidate stated that “[the northern part of] Mali was conquered, and taken by Al-Qaeda type individuals.” Such statement will undoubtedly move the Malian conflict to the top of the American intelligence community’s agenda. Washington will likely intensify the American support to French plans for an African led military intervention in Northern Mali. The Obama administration cannot afford a shy role in the Sahel while a myriad of armed groups close to The Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) control swaps of territories in Mali.
By describing the Sahel as “a region in full turmoil”, Mr. Romney puts Mali in the same category as Libya and Syria and thus adds urgency to an eventual American military plan to assist the Afro-French eventual military intervention in Mali. As the American involvement in the Malian crisis evolves, Washington is intensifying its diplomatic pressure on some countries in the Sahel to assist French military efforts. According to the Algerian Arabic daily Al-khabar, Paris asked the United States to “persuade” Algiers to engage its Air Force in support of French eventual military operations in northern Mali.
American pressures on Algeria were successful. Le French daily le Monde, citing a French Defense official, is reporting that Algeria has given a “tactical agreement” to a French led military operation in Mali and the presence of foreign troops on its borders. For his part, Algeria’s Foreign Minister has indicated during a recent visit to Mali “Algeria is not opposed to a military intervention as long as it is a part of the fight against terrorism.”
Faced with a deteriorating security situation at its doorsteps and feeling isolated, Algeria was “forced” to reverse its anti-military intervention stand. The Algerian government fears that an American blessed French military operation in Mali without Algerian military support will leave Algeria on the sideline watching French troops secure Algerian borders.
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