A historic breakthrough has been achieved with the successful negotiations of the Treaty of Oran. President Bounouira has hailed this as a great victory in stabilizing the West African region and the beginning of a shift in Algerian foreign policy to supporting and nurturing its neighbours, even as Nigeria, the perceived leader of the West African region, seeks to leverage violence for its own interests. This was only one facet of the complex and overlapping conflicts that embroil the region however. Although Mali will not be rendered in two by ethnic divisions, it is still a hotbed for Islamic militants who travel unharassed between southern Algeria, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. As part of its new regional diplomatic efforts, Algeria will begin actively supporting the governments in these regions to in their fight against jihadism and developing lasting peace.

Mali

Having made peace with the MNLA, Mali’s central government must now turn its efforts towards combatting Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, the alliance between the various islamic insurgent groups in the region. Algeria will assist by deploying 150 military advisors, 60 special forces operatives and a number of civilian experts. The advisors will train Malian security forces in counterinsurgency techniques learnt through experiences in the Algerian Civil War, while special forces operatives will conduct raids on key militant targets in conjunction with Malian and French forces. The civilian experts will provide assistance in building the administrative capacity of the central government in regions recently liberated from the MNLA to ensure they are not snatched up by jihadi groups.

Material support will come in the form of 6 Bayraktar TB2 drones operating out of the air base in Tamanrasset, along with 3 MiG-35s. The drones will primarily conduct aerial surveillance, while the planes will conduct airstrikes if a target is identified. Their primary targets will be militant supply depots, training camps and convoys. Algerian forces will reach out to their French and American counterparts in the region about the possibility of intelligence sharing to coordinate effective regional surveillance and target acquisition. Furthermore, the Algerian armed forces will transfer 45 T-62s to replace Mali’s extremely outdated tank core. 74 Nimr II APCs will be provided to enhance and modernise the armies mobility capabilities in the vast desert climate.

Algerian state-run mining companies have also shown a keen interest in Mali’s mineral resources, a golden opportunity to fund the country's development. In the country’s north, Sonartrach is prepared to restart oil drilling with an initial $150 million investment. They are willing to reinvest some of the profits back into local communities, assisting the central government in upholding its promise to develop the Azawad region. This will come in the form of water management systems, food security projects and employment opportunities. Closer to the capital, several companies are interested in opening iron ore and manganese mines, with initial investments of $250 million and $300 million respectively. These companies are willing to offer their Malian counterparts 40% control in the company. However, we understand that Mali may not have the funds to cover 40% of the initial investment. As such, our companies will cover the upfront investment and allow Mali to buy their share from the profits they receive.

Niger

Niger, the other Sahel state that borders our southern region, is also struggling with ongoing islamic militant activities. The limited state capacity and government budget means the armed forces are poorly equipped and state presence struggles to be maintained in some regions. In an effort to assist the government in Niamey and improve the security around our shared border, Algeria will send military advisors, administrative experts and material support much the same as in Mali. 50 advisors will train the Nigerian armed forces, with a focus on improving the quality of NCOs and COs, allowing training to eventually become self-sustaining. They will also advise on counter-terrorism, proividng a unqiue African perspective on the nuances of local conflicts that Western forces simply do not possess. Administrative experts, as in Mali, will advise on improving state capacity and efficiency to better run government services, as well as providing training for government employees. 56 Nimr II APCs will be provided to the army to replace their rapidly ageing armored vehicles, as well as providing modern protection and mobility to improve effectiveness and reduce casualties.

Algeria mining companies are interested in mineral rights to gold deposits in the northern Agadez region, offering the Nigerian government a 25% stake in an initial $250 million investment, which they can purchase using profits if they lack upfront funds. Algeria will also ensure that a portion of its profits are reinvested in developing the local communities and providing them with services and job opportunities. Furthermore, the new President Bounouira has placed a heavy focus on supporting the self-determination of the Western Sahara. As this is now a key priority of Algerian foreign policy, we urge the government in Niamey to reconsider its current stance of supporting Moroccan sovereignty. If establishing diplomatic relations with the SADR is too much at this time, we insist that at the very least you support the UN official policy of holding a referendum on independence.