Algerian Senate Approves Niger Troop Mission to Guard Gas Assets

The Algerian Senate voted 148 to 28 on Sunday to authorize the deployment of troops to Niger. The lower house of parliament subsequently backed the measure. This marks the first time Algeria has sent forces abroad since 1973, when units were dispatched to Egypt during the Arab-Israeli war.

Officials stated the mission is designed to secure economic infrastructure rather than engage in combat. Senator Belkacem Boulghiti told reporters after the vote, "We are not sending our soldiers to wage war in Niger, but for a mission to secure economic infrastructure." The troops are expected to operate in northern Niger near the Libyan border.

Algeria holds substantial economic stakes in the region. A planned gas pipeline will transport Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria. State-owned energy company Sonatrach recently signed an agreement with Niger's petroleum ministry to explore oil in the Kafra region. Reuters reported that two exploration wells in that area are estimated to hold 168 million and 100 million barrels of oil, respectively.

The decision follows a period of diplomatic friction between the two nations. In 2025, Niger recalled its ambassador to Algiers after Algeria shot down a Malian drone near the shared border. Niger acted in solidarity with Mali, which is also under military rule. The move reversed a trend of improving relations that began after Niger's military leadership sought closer ties with its northern neighbor.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has taken steps to strengthen the partnership in the past year. In February 2026, Niger's leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, visited Algeria. In late August, Tebboune sent fighter jets to Niger to help suppress a coup attempt. He also donated four military helicopters to the Nigerien government.

Niger's defense minister recently visited Algiers to discuss support against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The deployment utilizes a constitutional provision adopted in 2020 that allows for overseas military operations. This represents a shift from Algeria's long-standing policy of avoiding foreign force deployment.

The government has not yet announced the specific timeline for the deployment or the total number of soldiers involved. The Senate's vote concluded an emergency session called to address the proposal. The final approval came after deliberations in the upper chamber, with 148 of 174 senators voting in favor.