The desert reset: What’s behind Algeria’s reconciliation with Sahel states?

Algeria’s strategy focuses on accepting the reality of Sahel military rule rather than pushing to restore past political systems Since early 2026, there’s been a noticeable thaw in relations between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Relations between Algeria and members of the AES had been suspended in 2025 after a diplomatic fallout.

However, in March-April 2026, diplomatic reconciliation with Niger was suddenly announced, followed by the official launch of the normalization process with Burkina Faso.

On July 10-11, Mali and Algeria announced the reinstatement of ambassadors and the lifting of air travel restrictions.

In April 2025, ties were severed following an incident involving the interception of a Malian drone by the Algerian armed forces near the shared border.

All three AES member countries condemned the incident as a hostile act and recalled their ambassadors from Algeria.

In response, Algeria also recalled its diplomatic representatives from Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou for consultations.

However, the roots of the disagreements run much deeper: The events of 2025 marked the culmination of tensions that had accumulated for several years.

The rapprochement of recent months paves the way for Algeria to regain its former influence in the region.

For many years, Algeria has positioned itself as the main bulwark of stability as well as a mediator and a security buffer in the Sahel, leveraging its geographic proximity, shared ethnic ties with the peoples of the desert, and its experience in the long and bloody anti-colonial war and the fight against terrorism and migration crises.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune attends a graduation ceremony at the Houari-Boumediene Military Academy in Cherchell, Tipasa, Algeria, July 9, 2026. © APP / Presidence Algerienne / NurPhoto via Getty Images Complex situation in the Sahel The situation in the Sahel remains extremely fragile.

Since 2020, a series of internal and terrorist uprisings and eight coups have occurred in the region.

The presence of Islamic extremists on the borders with Mali and Niger poses a direct threat to Algeria’s national security.

The regional balance of power in the Sahel region underwent radical changes following the Arab Spring.