French lawmaker Sophia Chikirou, leader and Member of Parliament for the “France Unbowed” party, recently addressed a parliamentary question to Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This approach came in the form of a detailed parliamentary inquiry, specifically aimed at understanding the French government's strategic outlook. The inquiry seeks to understand the French government's strategy regarding Algeria's role in Mali and Paris's interests in the Sahel region. Some French political elites are attempting to steer their government’s policy to benefit from the recent rapprochement between Algeria and the ruling authorities in Mali, aiming to preserve France's interests in the Sahel region and Francophone Africa. This move specifically aims to preserve Paris’s interests in the Sahel region and Francophone Africa in general, ensuring continued influence and stability in a critical geopolitical area. Chikirou asked for "the French government’s assessment of the role Algeria can play in reaching a political solution to the crisis in Mali, and the nature of the contacts France is conducting with Algeria in this regard, and whether it intends to support regional mediation directly or indirectly, which would reopen a political horizon for reaching a settlement to the crisis in Mali." Her question specifically sought information on whether France intends to support regional mediation efforts, either directly or indirectly, to foster a political resolution.
Critique of Sahel Operations
Sophia Chikirou's parliamentary question constitutes a direct critique of French policy in the Sahel region. She formulated her inquiry based on the perceived failure of operations "Serval" and "Barkhane" to bring stability to the state of Mali. These operations, despite significant military investment, have not yielded the desired long-term security outcomes. Consequently, France is viewed by some as responsible for the current political, security, and military deadlock in the Sahel region, a complex situation that began in 2013 and has since deepened. The question advocates for a significant shift in French doctrine, moving from a predominantly military approach to a more full political one that incorporates dialogue and regional mediations. This proposed change aims to address the ongoing crisis through diplomatic means, recognizing the limitations of military intervention alone. The lawmaker's inquiry suggests that a re-evaluation of past strategies is key for future stability.
Algeria's Regional Influence
Algeria has repeatedly cautioned against relying solely on military solutions in Mali, warning against the long-term ineffectiveness of such approaches on more than one occasion. The country also played a historic role in the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, signed in Algeria. That agreement involved the central authorities in Bamako and northern opposition factions, reached under the auspices of the United Nations, demonstrating Algeria's capacity for diplomatic engagement. Algeria holds significant political and security influence in Mali and its neighboring regions, a factor that France cannot disregard given the intricate regional dynamics. Any sustainable solution in Mali is considered difficult to achieve without any role for Algeria, noting its indispensable position in regional stability efforts. Its historical ties and geographical proximity grant it unique leverage and understanding of the local context, which are vital for effective mediation.
Call for Policy Shift
There exists a current within the French political arena that sees Algeria as a partner that cannot be bypassed for a way out of the crisis in Mali. This perspective views Algeria not just as a neighbor, but as an indispensable partner for resolving the complex crisis in Mali. Sophia Chikirou’s parliamentary question reflects this perspective, asking whether France intends to support regional mediation efforts, either directly or indirectly, to foster a political resolution. A specialized source indicated that the French state has not publicly issued anything indicating the existence of contacts with Algeria in this regard, maintaining a public silence on the matter. The parliamentary question itself aims to pressure the French government into cooperating with Algeria. This cooperation would involve actively supporting any regional mediation that Algeria might lead to address the Malian crisis, thereby leveraging Algeria's established influence. The inquiry shows a growing sentiment that a shift in French diplomatic strategy is needed to leverage regional influence for stability, moving towards a more collaborative and politically nuanced approach in the Sahel. This call for a policy shift emphasizes the importance of regional actors in finding lasting solutions to complex geopolitical challenges.