Algeria conducted a large-scale “tactical exercise” on Tuesday, February 27 on the border with Mali, showing the importance of Algiers in the Sahel region.
There is tension between Algeria and Mali, as the former took its military drills to the latter's border.
Algeria conducted a large-scale “tactical exercise” on Tuesday, February 27 on the border with Mali, showing the importance of Algiers in the Sahel region.
The exercise followed strong tensions with the neighbouring country and also served as a message addressed to the Malian transitional authorities.
The exercise took place in the Bordj Badji Mokhtar sector, a desert area crossed by a mountain range which gave its name to the simulation: “Hoggar Storm 2024”.
The soldiers carried out, according to details provided by the Algerian Ministry of Defense, combat actions using live ammunition, an air landing operation carried out by helicopter-borne special forces, or even a parachuting operation “into the depths of the defenses ( …) of an unconventional enemy.”
A few kilometres away, on the other side of the Malian border, the Jnim (Support Group for Islam and Muslims) linked to al-Qaeda is particularly active.
According to an anonymous defense researcher, the exercise was a show of force intended to send a clear message to Mali.
The unusual large-scale action was interpreted as a way of showing the presence and power of the Algerian army in the region.
Relations between Algeria and Mali have been strained recently.
In January, Malian transitional authorities accused Algeria of interference in their internal affairs, leading to a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Despite this, some experts believe that the exercise was not a manifestation of hostility, but rather an attempt by Algeria to reassert its influence in the region while renewing dialogue with Mali.
The exercise was widely relayed by the Algerian press, which highlights the current tensions between Algiers and Bamako. Malian authorities have recently expressed discontent over Algeria's interactions with armed rebel groups and Malian political figures opposed to the current regime.
The large-scale military exercise on the border with Mali demonstrates the growing tensions between the two countries and the strategic importance of the region for Algeria.
It is also a way for Algeria to reaffirm its regional role and to face the security challenges posed by terrorist groups active in the region.”