#Morocco and criminal gangs funded by the drug trade threaten the gas pipeline between Nigeria an...

https://dzpatriots.blogspot.com/2026/... _____________________________________ The Algeria-Niger-Nigeria gas pipeline project represents much more than an energy infrastructure. It constitutes a key axis of sovereignty, African integration, and major geopolitical repositioning in an international context marked by the restructuring of gas markets. However, as the project develops, security risks in the Sahel region are increasing, and some Moroccan statements publicly raise the possibility of attacks against this strategic infrastructure; these statements are considered direct threats that Algeria cannot ignore. A Structuring Project for Africa and the Mediterranean The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), led by Sonatrach, NNPC Limited, and the Nigerien Petroleum Company, is expected to transport approximately 30 billion cubic meters of Nigerian gas per year to Algeria, and then on to Europe. In the context of European energy diversification, this trans-Saharan corridor would strengthen: Algeria's position as a strategic gas hub, African energy integration, and the decision-making autonomy of partner states. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has stated that the project will enter a concrete phase after Ramadan, with a significant mobilization of Algerian human and technical resources. The Sahel: New Epicenter of Global Terrorism The security threat in the region is not theoretical. Several United Nations reports and assessments by the U.S. Africa Command describe the Sahel as one of the main current strongholds of the Islamic State (ISIS). Estimates suggest between 3,500 and 5,000 active fighters in the tri-border area (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso). This expansion is explained by: the fragility of the states, the extent of ungoverned territories, and the hybrid nature of jihadist ideology and a criminal economy. Armed groups profit from cross-border trafficking—illegal gold mining, fuel smuggling, kidnappings, and drug trafficking—to finance their operations. The Syrian Factor: A Possible Qualitative Reinforcement Recent assessments by Western intelligence services and UN experts suggest a gradual redeployment of foreign ISIS elements from Syria to Africa. Before the latest upheavals, Syria still harbored between 200 and 500 foreign fighters who were neither Syrian nor Iraqi. Under increased security pressure, some are reportedly seeking to reach more permissive areas. The danger is qualitative: these veterans possess advanced expertise in: manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the tactical use of commercial drones, planning complex attacks, and structuring digital propaganda. Their arrival in the Sahel region could lead to an "upgrade" in the operational capabilities of local groups. Hostile rhetoric from Morocco and information warfare In this climate, some Moroccan analysts have publicly raised the possibility of terrorist groups targeting the gas pipeline. Among them, Manar Slimi and Naom Abdelfattah mentioned the possibility of terrorist attacks against the pipeline project. These statements may stem from a classic security analysis. However, in a context of energy and diplomatic rivalries in North Africa, the repetition of attack scenarios also contributes to a battle for perceptions. Major energy infrastructure has historically been a major symbolic target in asymmetric conflicts. The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, due to its strategic importance, could attract the attention of groups seeking maximum media impact. Given the links between Moroccan drugs (controlled by the Moroccan royal palace) and terrorist groups, the statements by Manar Slimi, who is close to the Moroccan DGED (external intelligence service), appear as a direct threat to the gas pipeline project. In this context, talk of possible attacks against the gas pipeline must be taken seriously, not to succumb to alarmism, but to anticipate potential threats. The Algeria-Niger-Nigeria gas pipeline is not just about energy; it is also about geopolitics. And it is precisely for this reason that it requires security commensurate with its ambitions. While the threat exists, Algeria's determination to protect its strategic interests remains as strong as ever. By Belgacem Merbah