In recent years, the Sahel countries have witnessed multidimensional and interconnected security crises that have created a complex geopolitical landscape. These crises include food insecurity, rising poverty, unemployment, political corruption, adverse climatic conditions, and the spread of violence and extremism. Such challenges have hindered development and generated serious security concerns not only domestically but also regionally—especially for neighboring countries like Algeria, which fears potential spillover effects threatening its national security.

The situation was further exacerbated by the aftermath of the 2011 Libyan revolution and the return of fighters from Gaddafi’s forces to their home countries in the Sahel, along with the proliferation of weapons and military equipment that became easily accessible to extremist groups. Amid this turmoil, Mali experienced political and security unrest in 2012 due to a Tuareg rebellion, prompting the Malian government to request French military assistance to reestablish control and counter terrorist expansion.

Subsequently, France expanded its military operations in Mali and other countries in the region under the pretext of restoring stability and protecting its economic interests, while simultaneously strengthening its influence, which had come under threat from the growing presence of major powers such as Russia, China, and Turkey. However, this approach did not last. France has recently decided to withdraw its military presence from Mali and other countries in the region, announcing the end of its military operations there and a redefinition of its strategy toward the African Sahel. This shift implies a worsening security situation with potentially negative implications for Algeria due to its geographical proximity.

This article seeks to examine the motives behind France’s withdrawal and its repercussions for Algeria’s security and regional stability.

Main Research Question

How does the French withdrawal from the African Sahel pose a threat to Algeria’s security and stability?

Sub-Questions

1. What does France’s strategy in the African Sahel consist of?
2. How did internal dynamics within Sahelian countries and other contributing factors lead to France’s decision to withdraw, and what are the implications for Algeria?

Importance of the Study

The significance of this study lies in highlighting France’s withdrawal as a fundamental turning point in its policy toward the African Sahel — a region of high strategic importance due to its geography, natural resources, and security challenges. These challenges not only affect the countries of the Sahel and their populations but also neighboring states such as Algeria. France’s departure risks creating a security vacuum that renders near-term stability in the region unattainable, with lasting repercussions for Algeria’s national security.

Objective of the Study

This study aims to analyze the French decision to withdraw from the Sahel by examining its underlying causes and potential impacts on the internal situations of the Sahelian states and on Algeria’s stability and security.

Methodology

The descriptive–analytical method was employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic, supplemented by a historical approach.

2. FRENCH POLICY IN THE AFRICAN SAHEL: SECURITY AND STRATEGIC MOTIVATIONS

The African Sahel, located between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, stretches from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. It includes several key countries — Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania — which together form the “G5 Sahel” for security and development cooperation.

These states share significant contradictions: they possess strategic locations and abundant natural resources (oil, gold, uranium, and phosphate) yet suffer from deep-rooted political, economic, and security fragility. They face intertwined crises spanning political, social, and environmental dimensions, compounded by increasing international competition over resources and the absence of strong national development visions.

Many researchers attribute the region’s instability to colonial legacies that entrenched dependency and fragmented societies. France — as the former colonial power in most of these states — maintained loyal elites who secured French influence and economic interests through military cooperation. Since the 1960s, the region has witnessed around 40 French military interventions, including Operation Serval (2013) and Operation Barkhane (2014–2022), making France the dominant external actor in the Sahel.

Strategic Objectives

France’s strategy in the Sahel aimed to:

1. Prepare and train local armies to face security challenges, stabilize their countries, and protect sovereignty.
2. Maintain French influence and ensure the continued political, military, and economic dependency of its former colonies.

France established several military bases in the region — notably in Djibouti and Abidjan — and intervened militarily in Mali after the 2012 Tuareg rebellion and the spread of jihadist groups. Its intervention, authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 2085, was officially justified as part of the global war on terror.

At the economic level, France sought to secure its investments, protect access to natural resources, and ensure markets for its products. Thus, French involvement in the Sahel combined security and economic motives, intended to preserve its global influence. Yet, the growing presence of other powers — particularly Russia and China — has challenged this strategy.

3. FRENCH WITHDRAWAL: REASONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ALGERIA

On February 17, 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of French forces from Mali after nine years of intervention. The decision reflected the failure of Operation Barkhane to achieve stability and the rising costs of maintaining France’s military presence amid increasing losses and public dissatisfaction.

Key Reasons for Withdrawal

1. Growing Public Hostility:
   France’s prolonged presence failed to curb terrorism or violence, which instead intensified. Many citizens in the Sahel perceived the French intervention as a new form of colonialism, leading to widespread anti-French sentiment.
2. Internal Pressures in France:
   French public opinion turned against the costly military involvement, urging the government to redirect efforts toward domestic issues. The financial burden of the operation, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, further strained the French economy.
3. Rise of Anti-French Military Elites:
   Military coups in Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Burkina Faso brought to power leaders unwilling to align with France. Mali’s new government in particular sought military cooperation with Russia.
4. Lack of a Developmental Dimension:
   France’s focus on military action ignored the root socioeconomic causes of instability—poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment—fostering resentment and recruitment by extremist groups.
5. Russian Disinformation and Influence:
   Russian campaigns targeted Sahelian public opinion and portrayed Moscow as a more reliable partner through the Wagner Group, while simultaneously undermining France’s credibility.
6. Complex and Deteriorating Security Situation:
   Widespread corruption, military coups, and weak governance created fertile ground for terrorism and organized crime, which France could not contain. Consequently, accusations of neo-colonialism grew.

Implications for Algeria

France’s withdrawal has intensified regional instability. Terrorist attacks have increased, as demonstrated by Al-Qaeda’s deadly assault in Bamako in September 2024. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger now rank among the world’s most terrorism-affected nations (Global Terrorism Index, 2024).

For Algeria, the repercussions include:

• Increased Security Threats: Spillover of terrorism and arms trafficking along southern borders.
• Rising Military Costs: Algeria increased its 2025 defense budget by over $25 billion to enhance border protection.
• Illegal Migration Pressures: A surge of migrants from Sahel countries imposes social, economic, and security burdens.
• Diplomatic Strain: Relations between France and Sahel countries remain tense, while Algeria’s relations with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have also soured due to incidents such as the downing of a Malian drone over Algerian territory.

4. RESULTS

Security Level

• Terrorist groups are exploiting the post-withdrawal security vacuum to expand operations, smuggle arms, and recruit fighters.
• Algeria must enhance its southern military presence, imposing further strain on public finances.

Political Level

• The Sahel remains politically fragile, marked by repeated coups and institutional weakness.
• The decline of French influence opens opportunities for Algeria to play a constructive regional role, though recent diplomatic tensions complicate this prospect.

Economic and Social Level

• The persistence of insecurity hinders economic cooperation between Algeria and the Sahel, perpetuating migration flows and humanitarian challenges.

5. CONCLUSION

For decades, France dominated the Sahel through military and economic influence. However, internal pressures, public hostility, and the rise of competing powers have ended this dominance. France’s withdrawal marks both an end and a beginning: it offers Sahelian states a chance to assert sovereignty, but it also creates a volatile power vacuum filled by Russia, China, and regional actors like Algeria.

For Algeria, the challenge lies in balancing security vigilance with proactive diplomacy and development partnerships to stabilize its southern neighborhood and protect its national security.