| Summary/Abstract |
The Franco-Russian great power rivalry is a powerful security dynamic
shaping the Sahara-Sahel region that was formed in the last decade due to transnational (in)security processes, namely, the transnational terrorism-
migration-crime nexus. The confrontation between Paris and Moscow,
which commenced at the end of last decade, is largely a consequence
of the weaknesses and inefficiency of the French foreign policy in the
region, which Russia strives to exploit to its political and economic benefit.
The hotspots of this confrontation are Libya and Mali, where the Franco-
Russian rivalry has led to the global securitization of the conflict (in both
countries), transformation of the regional balance of power (in Libya), and
the aggravation of existing security problems (in Mali). Overall, the Franco-
Russian rivalry in the Sahara-Sahel region is a phenomenon of the upcoming
age of multipolarity and a new Scramble for Africa.
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