The Sahel arms race and tension between Mauritania and Mali

The region is facing an arms race between several countries, including Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco. Tension in the area is growing and the disagreements between Mali and Mauritania is one of the main concerns for the African Union, surrounding countries and politicians in the West, who see the Sahel, "Europe's backyard", as a region of proxy wars. Tensions have been on the rise following incursions by Malian troops into Mauritanian territory. 

According to the Mauritanian National Army, the Defence Minister and Chief of Staff approved the new military equipment package. Mauritania is taking a comprehensive approach to its military capabilities, focusing on effectiveness and diversity rather than just buying a limited number of weapons. 

This was part of a broader plan to demonstrate the country's strength and win allied support to prevent a group of Wagner-backed Russians from entering Mauritania for counter-terrorism purposes. 

On the other hand, Mali has used Turkish Bayraktar drones to fight separatist movements. Abroad, Algeria has become the target of Iranian protests that threaten the security of Nouakchott, which does not want to join regional alliances, especially after Algeria proposed establishing an alternative alliance to the Maghreb Union, except Morocco. 

Mali and Mauritania: tension in the Maghreb

Mauritania's escalation, especially as it coincided with the conduct of border exercises entitled "Testing the readiness of combat units and their combat effectiveness", was intended to confirm that the country would never tolerate efforts to delay a new focus of Russian influence that is beginning to take shape in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. 

Tensions between Mauritania and Mali are a serious problem in the region. The Malian army's advance into the Mauritanian border area has led to tensions between the two countries. The differences reflect the competition for influence between Russia and the West in the region, as well as the struggle for regional sovereignty and stability. The tensions could also threaten regional stability and the security of countries in the region as Russia's desire for an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Nervousness is linked to the fight against terrorism and instability in the region. Sahelian countries are fighting terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and other armed groups that carry out attacks and kidnappings. Reducing and controlling tension between Mauritania and Mali is an effort by countries in the region to protect their interests and sovereignty in the region, as well as to fight instability and terrorism. 

Morocco leads the arms race in the Sahel and the Sahara

The arms race in the Sahel and Sahara is a complex phenomenon involving several countries in the region, including Mauritania, Mali, Algeria and Morocco. These countries are buying modern weapons, including reconnaissance and attack drones, to protect their interests and sovereignty in the region. 

The arms race reflects the competition for influence between Russia and the West in the region and could pose a threat to regional stability. Moreover, an arms race could lead to an escalation of violence and increased tensions between countries in the region. 

The arms race in the Sahel and Sahara is also linked to the fight against terrorism and instability in the region. Countries in the region are fighting terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and other armed groups that carry out attacks and kidnappings. The arms race is an effort by countries in the region to protect their interests and sovereignty in the region, as well as to fight instability and terrorism. 

In the latest report published by Military Africa, a website specialising in military affairs in Africa, it showed that the number of drones in the arsenal of the Mauritanian army is about 4 units, ranking 28th in Africa and last in the Maghreb. 

The report notes that Morocco tops the list of Maghreb countries with the most drones (233 drones), followed by Algeria with 121 drones and Tunisia with around 59 drones. Relations between Nouakchott and Bamako were strained by the incursion of the Malian army and elements of Russia's Wagner Group into the Mauritanian border region in early April last year. On 4 May, the Mauritanian army conducted military exercises on the border with Mali. 

Threat to regional stability

There is no doubt that Moscow wants to widen the circle of alliances, and that is the secret that worries Mauritania and its swift response to make it happen.  The threat to regional stability is a major issue in the region. The arms race in the Sahel and Sahara, tensions between Mauritania and Mali, cooperation with the West and energy security are all factors that could threaten stability in the region. 

A threat to regional stability could lead to an escalation of violence and increased tensions between countries in the region, which in turn is linked to the fight against terrorism and instability in the region. Countries in the region are fighting terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and other armed groups that carry out attacks and kidnappings. The threat to regional stability is the efforts of regional countries to protect their interests and sovereignty in the region, as well as the fight against instability and terrorism.

What is Russia's role?

Concerns about Russia's agenda in the Sahel could encourage Mauritania to open cooperation with the US, which is looking for an alternative partner to transfer its forces withdrawing from Niger and Chad. 

Amin Goulidi, a security researcher and political geographer, in a report published by the National Interest magazine, argued that closer security cooperation with Nouakchott provides Washington with protection against growing instability in the south, enhancing Mauritania's potential and supporting its military infrastructure. 

In contrast, Richard Weitzer, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the Hudson Institute in Virginia, argued that the NATO-Mauritania rapprochement reflects growing concern over the situation in the Sahel region and signals Russia's efforts to expand its control in the region through the Wagner Group. 

Western cooperation plays a key role. Despite the end of the French army's presence in the region and the recent departure of Spanish forces in Mali, directives from Brussels will always be part of the solution to the problem: Wagner's arrival in the Sahel.

Europe has always advocated working together to find joint solutions. To this end, the United States and NATO have, in recent years, established more and better relations with local governments, with the sole aim of establishing peace and security in the Sahel region and the Sahara.