An unstable Maghreb would be a threat to Europe and beyond
By: Bassel Torjmen
The Maghreb has not enjoyed any political, social or economic stability since 9/11 and terrorist threats have increased in the area extending from Egypt to Mauritania.
Southern Europe is the most affected by the current happenings in the region.
The deteriorating security in the Maghreb and a weak economy could cause uncontrollable chaos with flocks of illegal immigrants to Europe leading to lawlessness. This means that Europe could soon turn into a scene of unprecedented terror.
The U.S. is directly concerned with the war on terrorism and the risk of its expansion from the sub-Saharan region to the south Mediterranean is of utmost concern.
Terrorist forces have managed to achieve military and strategic gains in the Maghreb and bordering Sahel by exploiting existing chaos and instability in the region. They have found a region where it is easy to get around and enjoy certain sources of funding and armament.
These extremist forces have found funding though the ransoming of kidnapped foreigners in the sub-Saharan region and by smuggling activities. There are also large quantities of abandoned weapons in Libya due to the country’s failure to establish a strong political regime and collect arms.
The question: Would foreign powers benefit from an unstable Maghreb?
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Your Comments
commentsAnonymous About 8 months ago
I am posting this comment provided that it will be published and accessible to everyone.
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Anonymous About 8 months ago
If anybody would take advantage of instability in the Arab Maghreb, then it’s the United States of America, which used terrorism to neutralize its opponents. As a matter of fact, the U.S. created a front in Afghanistan to extort the Russians and Chinese and keep them busy; in the meantime, it started creating another front in the Arab Maghreb to play the same game with Western Europe and the euro zone in general. The U.S. is making every effort and using all possible tricks to hinder any attempts to eliminate terrorist bases in the Sahel before they gain strength, while knowing that the sea of darkness separating it from those terrorist bases is enough to protect it from their impact, while keeping its European, Russian and Chinese friends busy and unable to compete with it on the economic and security levels. Let the U.S. build its prosperity on the skulls of its enemies and friends, as has always been its approach.
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Ruspina Kuriat About 8 months ago
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. There are many predators waiting for opportunities presented by people who do not understand the implications of following temptations, such as the abundance of wealth or the lack of adequate experience to manage state affairs.
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Anonymous About 8 months ago
Libya will not be able to stabilize the region without the concerted efforts of concerned Arab and African countries, especially that Libya is still going through exceptional circumstances after a year-long war. Libya has huge material resources, but it lacks the needed expertise. Just like Libya and other Arab and African countries are concerned with stability, Europe is equally concerned if it wants to protect itself from problems such as illegal immigration. Europe has to transfer its expertise in the fight against terrorism to the south of the Mediterranean. The world has become a small village, and interests are interwoven, so cooperation is crucial. If the Arab Maghreb is stable, that will positively impact Europe.
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Anonymous About 3 months ago
With multiple and complex crises the West is going in general through tough times. The military force is no longer the guarantor, but a group of soft-power instead of the strong ones. It’s useful for those who want to benefit from this situation to find sources of strength that make them overcome the weak situation the Arab states are going through. The West today is the one who needs Arab capabilities as well as its wealth and even security. The west missed the opportunities of intervening successfully such as in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan … They are pleading today for Algeria to intervene in Mali. Whether the situation is threatening their interests or not the calculations of the west changed in terms of possibilities and goals. And we must be aware that the West led by America is taking a step back. There are others readying themselves to take a step forward. But, unfortunately those are not the Arab countries. Hussein from Algeria.
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