Algeria's Atlantic ambitions fade as Morocco's Sahel plan wins backing

Algeria’s hopes for an Atlantic outlet appear to be diminishing as international support grows for Morocco’s initiative aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic ocean for the Sahel countries, as reported by Larazon.

The report says that the initiative would be a blow to Algeria, which supports the Polisario to achieve an exit to the ocean.

This initiative involves opening a new border with Mauritania, allowing Sahelian nations to channel goods through a major port Morocco is building in Dakhla. 

This development could potentially undermine Algeria’s long-held goal of securing an Atlantic exit, a strategic objective linked to their support for the Polisario Front. 

In a move seen as a response to Morocco’s initiative to boost trade access for Sahel countries, Algeria announced the creation of “free trade zones” with five countries in mid-February 2024.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated that Algeria will establish free trade zones with “sister countries” starting with Mauritania, followed by Mali and Niger in the Sahel region, and then Tunisia and Libya. 

The president emphasized Algeria’s commitment to economic development and continental integration, highlighting the importance of improving African economic integration through enhanced infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and leveraging national resources.

This move by the Algerian president is widely seen as a countermeasure to the initiative announced by King Mohammed VI on November 6, 2023, which aimed to facilitate access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries. 

Four countries – Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad – have officially joined the Moroccan initiative.

Algeria previously responded to Morocco’s initiative by suspending loans to some participating countries. 

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which previously benefited from long-standing loan agreements with Algeria, were reportedly no longer eligible for such loans. 

Some experts saw this move as an attempt to exert pressure on these countries through punitive measures.

The separatist Polisario Front has also expressed apprehension at this new royal initiative which aimed at enhancing Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean and also has the potential to impact the region’s social and security landscape positively.

Analysts have raised concerns that the Polisario Front may attempt to exploit the precarious security situation in Sahel countries to further their activities. 

This could involve seeking funding through involvement in organized crime, particularly in areas like arms trade, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.