ABSTRACT
Since independence, intra-Maghrebi relations have been marked by a pattern of bilateral rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, which has conditioned the construction of the Maghreb and hampered regional integration initiatives. This article discusses the impact of political transformations on this longstanding pattern of behaviour since 2011. While shared perceptions of threat initially prompted a short-lived ‘defensive détente’ between the two countries, this rapprochement soon yielded to a new period of rivalry. Moreover, the sub-regional context in the area is tumultuous, due to the deterioration of the security situation in Mali and Libya. Once again, the zero-sum perspective that characterises Moroccan-Algerian relations has prevailed, preventing both countries from cooperating in tackling regional crises. Additionally, new arenas of rivalry have emerged in the Sahel, what some have called the ‘new security border for Europe’ and a space in which both countries are competing for the roles of stabilising force and regional mediator.
Morocco has taken advantage of the growing interdependence around security issues between the Sahel and Maghreb after the collapse of the Libyan state and the instability in Mali to reposition itself as a regional actor in the Sahel space, challenging Algeria’s traditional role in the region. The article examines the competition between the two countries to be seen by the international community as good partners, exporters of security and stability in the region. The rivalry has been reshaped in two principle areas: the competition for the role of mediator in the conflicts in Mali and Libya, and the competition to show expertise in the fight against terrorism and the processes of religious radicalisation. Finally, the rivalry between the two countries has extended into the rest of the African continent since Morocco’s decision to abandon its empty-chair policy and join the African Union.
