Niger Security: Algeria votes to deploy troops

The Algerian Senate voted on Sunday to authorize the country's first overseas military deployment since 1973. The measure sends troops to Niger to protect energy infrastructure. A total of 148 out of 174 senators supported the proposal. The lower house of parliament subsequently backed the decision.

Officials have not yet specified the exact number of soldiers or the timeline for the arrival in Niger. The mission focuses on securing facilities in the northern region near the Libyan border. These sites are central to a planned gas pipeline that would transport Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria.

The move follows a visit to Algiers by Niger's defense minister. He sought support to counter armed groups, some of which are linked to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. This deployment represents the first application of a 2020 constitutional provision that permits overseas military operations. It shifts Algeria's long-standing policy of keeping its forces within its borders.

Senator Belkacem Boulghiti addressed reporters after the vote to clarify the scope of the mission. He stated, "We are not sending our soldiers to wage war in Niger, but for a mission to secure economic infrastructure." The statement emphasized the protective nature of the operation rather than an offensive one.

Algeria's state-owned energy company, Sonatrach, has signed an agreement with Niger's petroleum ministry to explore for oil in the Kafra region. Reuters reported that two exploration wells in that area are estimated to hold 168 million and 100 million barrels, respectively. These economic stakes underscore the strategic importance of the northern border zone.

Relations between the two neighbors improved after a diplomatic rift in 2025. Niger recalled its ambassador to Algiers in solidarity with Mali following Algeria's decision to shoot down a Malian drone near its border. The tension had followed Algeria's condemnation of the 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tchiani to power.

Tchiani visited Algeria in February 2026 to further repair ties. In late August, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent fighter jets to Niger to help suppress a coup attempt. He also donated four military helicopters during that period.