Mali’s political tensions threaten security in Sahel region

Nahla Abdelmonem

The Republic of Mali, which is located in western Africa, goes through tough political tests.

The country’s president Bah Ndaw, prime minister Moctar Ouane and minister of defense Souleymane Doucoure were arrested and put in prison recently.

This comes amid deep political rivalries inside the country, which is affecting its stability at the end and creating conditions appropriate for terrorist organizations to do whatever they want in Mali.

Events have been taking place so rapidly in this African country since the ousting of former president Abu Bakr Kita in August last year.

The subsequent tensions that happened in the country offered a fertile soil for the growth of terrorist activities and terrorist groups to control larger parts of Mali. Terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda have a good chance to expand the scope of their activities with Mali’s tensions persisting.

According to the 2020 Global Terrorism Index, which is released annually by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace, the largest number of terrorism victims fell in politically restive states, such as Mali, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Somalia.

The index draws links between political tensions in these countries and their failure to preserve their security.

The same tensions open the door for mutiny, which also opens the door for cooperation between lawbreakers, including arms traffickers and drug dealers. These people will cooperate to create sources of funding for themselves.

The presence of an active branch of al-Qaeda in Mali increases the African country’s security problems.

France said on May 23 that European military presence in the African Sahel region will have to continue for ten more years.