Algeria Sends Troops to Guard Niger Gas Sites
The 148 to 28 Senate vote marks the nation's first overseas military deployment since 1973, aiming to protect energy assets near the Libyan border.
By Aminata Patterson ·
Algerian senators voted 148 to 28 on Sunday to authorize the country's first foreign military deployment since 1973. The forces will be stationed in Niger to protect energy infrastructure. This move breaks a decades long policy of keeping troops at home.
The upper house of parliament held an emergency session to approve the mission. The lower house subsequently backed the decision. The deployment follows a visit by Niger's defence minister to Algiers. Both countries are working to rebuild diplomatic ties after a rift in 2025.
Algeria has substantial economic stakes in the region. A planned gas pipeline is designed to carry gas from Nigeria through Niger to Algeria. The troops are expected to secure these facilities in northern Niger. This area is close to the Libyan border and prone to instability from armed groups.
Senator Belkacem Boulghiti addressed reporters after the vote. He stated, "We are not sending our soldiers to wage war in Niger, but for a mission to secure economic infrastructure." The specific number of soldiers and their arrival date have not been announced.
This action utilizes a 2020 constitutional provision for overseas military operations. It signals a shift in Algeria's long standing defensive posture. The timing coincides with improved relations following the 2023 coup in Niger that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and installed General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Tensions had spiked in 2025 when Algeria shot down a Malian drone near its border. Niger recalled its ambassador in solidarity with Mali. Relations warmed in 2026 when Tchiani visited Algeria in February. In late August, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent fighter jets to suppress a coup attempt and donated four military helicopters.
State owned energy company Sonatrach has signed an agreement with Niger's petroleum ministry. The deal targets oil exploration in the Kafra region. Reuters reported that two exploration wells are estimated to contain 168 million and 100 million barrels respectively.
Source: BBC News
