Fragility and Security Challenges in the Greater Maghreb

This chapter examines the intricate relationship between fragility and emerging security challenges within the Maghreb region. While extensive research exists on the hindrances to regional integration and hegemonic rivalries, there is a scarcity of studies that critically analyze how this nexus of fragility and new security dynamics impacts contemporary Maghreb security. A fresh perspective is essential to comprehend the multifaceted nature of hybrid security threats sweeping the region. The entire Maghreb region has undergone a transformation into a new and distinct security complex intricately intertwined with the African Sahel region. The existing institutions and policies are ill-equipped to address the imperative need for new security regionalism. Therefore, an innovative approach to understanding the fragility-security relationship becomes imperative. Regrettably, the strained relations between Morocco and Algeria pose a significant obstacle to the establishment of a long-term regional bloc within the Maghreb. The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), comprising Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia, could have played a more proactive role in addressing the region's hybrid challenges, particularly concerning the rise of violent jihadist movements. Given its geographical proximity and geopolitical ties, the AMU might have assumed a mediating role in initiatives involving Sahel countries, such as the Group of Five initiative. However, the AMU remains largely dormant, primarily due to disputes between Algeria and Morocco regarding the Western Sahara crisis, their orientations towards the European Union, and their relations with the Arab world. Amid the chaos in Libya, Tunisia's fragile transition, Mauritania's precarious regime, and the competition for influence between Algeria and Morocco in Sub-Saharan Africa, the AMU seems unprepared for inter-Arab cooperation. Yet, the prevailing insecurity, both domestically and at the borders, has intensified calls for unity. The hybrid threats to existing regimes and the complex security landscape involving Europe to the north and the Sahel countries to the south necessitate increased collaboration among Maghreb states.