What are the implications of Nigerien President Abdourahmane Tiani’s visit to Algeria with a high-level delegation? How should we interpret the visit last week of two Algerian ministers to Burkina Faso? Could these moves pave the way for a fundamental resolution of the disputes between Algeria and its neighbor Mali? And are such brief political visits enough to build genuine relations with all three countries? What should Algeria do to move beyond relations that are limited to presidents and politicians?

In reality, these questions arise against a backdrop of estrangement and ongoing tensions that have characterized Algeria’s relations with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Partial solutions to the core problems and shortcomings that define these relationships cannot be resolved through short visits, even at the level of last Sunday’s visit of the Nigerien president to Algeria, which took place at the invitation of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This particular visit was preceded by a preliminary diplomatic thaw between the two countries, exemplified by the return of both the Nigerien ambassador to Algeria and the Algerian ambassador to Niger.

In this context, Algerian political observers noted that last Friday’s visit of Algerian Ministers Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State for Hydrocarbons and Mines, and Mourad Adjal, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, to the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, can be seen indirectly as part of the initial arrangements to revitalize political relations between the two countries. Although the talks held with their counterpart Yakouba Zabré Gouba, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries of Burkina Faso, focused primarily on economic matters—namely hydrocarbons, electricity, renewable energy, mining, and industry.

Several political analysts expect that these visits and discussions could help ease some of the tensions that have long disrupted relations among the Sahel countries. In this regard, Nigerien political analyst Maalem Oumaro expressed optimism in an interview with the Algerian daily El Khabar last Sunday, stating that the president’s visit with a high-level delegation "shows that the ties between the two countries and their shared challenges cannot be halted by tension or a diplomatic crisis." He further emphasized that the composition of the delegation indicates "important outcomes are expected."

However, this optimism clashes with several existing challenges. Fruitful relations between Algeria and the three countries cannot be built unless these problems are addressed fundamentally, in a framework that goes beyond the usual focus on rulers and political authorities. This requires creating broad and lasting ties in culture, media, economy, and science between Algerian citizens and the civil societies of the Sahel countries and Africa as a whole. Currently, there are no serious partnerships in the form of universities, research centers, or platforms dedicated to African-to-African dialogue.

Joint cultural and media initiatives between Algeria and the Sahel countries, and more broadly Africa, are almost non-existent. In this regard, the legacy of Algerian liberation thinker Frantz Fanon remains unfulfilled. When he represented Algeria in Accra in 1960, he argued that "we must show that it is possible, beyond the general choices of political leaders, to identify points where peoples can meet, cooperate, and build together."

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Annahar