Algeria is an essential partner for Mali. Visiting USA

(B2) Hillary Clinton was in Algiers on October 29 to convince President Bouteflika of the merits of international intervention in Mali. "An in-depth discussion on the situation in the region and in particular on Maliaccording to the American Secretary of State for whom this is the second visit to the country this year.

Prioritize the African solution

While favoring negotiation, Algeria is not opposed to an armed operation, provided that it is exclusively African and that its own troops do not take part in it. "We have agreed to follow up on these discussions through expert discussions and we will continue this work bilaterally and with partners in the region.Mrs. Clinton explained.

The terrorist threat

Algeria is perceived as essential both by Paris and by Washington. According to the Americans, the Algerian President insisted on the importance of the terrorist threat and drug trafficking. Basically on the complexity of the factors to be taken into account, because the international presence could extend the conflict and Algiers fears a destabilization of its territory, in particular in the regions where its Tuareg population lives, 50.000 people wide. In any case, American diplomacy makes the Algerian position a key point. "Algeria being the most powerful state in the Sahel has become a crucial partner in dealing with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrebinsisted an American diplomat before landing.