Fragility and New Security Threats in the Maghreb and Sahel

What is it about?

The chapter looks at why the countries of the Greater Maghreb—Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia—have become so fragile and what this means for their security. It explains how weak state institutions, stalled regional cooperation, and long‑running disputes such as Western Sahara have left the region vulnerable to terrorism, cross‑border crime, and spillovers from the Sahel. Using these five states as a case study, the chapter demonstrates how food insecurity, economic marginalization, and porous borders contribute to instability, and how the Arab Maghreb Union's failure to function effectively hinders these countries from responding collectively. In short, it argues that the Maghreb and the Sahel now form one interconnected security space, and that only deeper regional cooperation and stronger, more legitimate states can break the cycle of fragility and insecurity.

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Photo by Fabien Bazanegue on Unsplash

Photo by Fabien Bazanegue on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This chapter is important because it explains, in a clear way, why insecurity in the Maghreb cannot be understood country by country or through terrorism alone, but as the product of weak states, stalled regional cooperation, and growing spillover from the Sahel. It illustrates how everyday issues, such as food prices, border tensions, and fragile institutions, are interconnected with larger regional trends, including jihadist networks and the rivalry between Algeria and Morocco, thereby making instability more difficult to contain. By connecting these pieces, the chapter helps policymakers, students, and observers understand that solving security problems in North Africa will require stronger regional cooperation and new thinking about how to address “hybrid” threats that cross borders and blur the distinction between internal and external security.

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