Algeria Sends Troops to Niger to Guard Oil Assets
Parliament approved the mission Sunday, breaking with decades of non-interference policy to protect state energy interests in the Sahel.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
Algerian legislators voted on Sunday to authorize a military deployment to neighboring Niger.
The People's National Assembly ratified the plan following a unanimous endorsement by the Council of the Nation earlier that day. This marks a sharp break from the North African nation's historical stance of avoiding foreign military entanglements. Authorities have not yet specified the number of soldiers involved or their exact arrival date.
The mission aims to safeguard Algeria's economic and strategic positions, particularly the oil facilities operated by the state-owned Sonatrach in Niger. Senator Belkacem Boulghiti told reporters after the vote that the goal is to secure economic infrastructure rather than wage war. He described the move as an adaptation of national doctrine to changing circumstances.
This parliamentary action follows earlier military steps taken nearly two months ago. Algeria dispatched four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 jets, a transport plane, and an aerial refueling aircraft to Niamey. Officials at the time framed that airlift as a countermeasure against efforts to destabilize Niger's military-led government.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have improved recently. President Abdourahamane Tchiani visited Algiers in February, and his defense minister Salifou Mody subsequently traveled to Algeria for security talks. These moves reversed a period of strain that began after Algiers condemned the 2023 coup in Niger. Tensions spiked further last April when the Algerian army shot down a Malian drone, leading Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to recall their ambassadors.
Algeria maintains the largest military budget in Africa, with spending exceeding $25 billion in 2025 according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The deployment also occurs amid other diplomatic shifts, including Algeria's decision in September to cut ties with the United Arab Emirates over alleged hostile actions. France has withdrawn troops from the region, while Russia and the United States have adjusted their presence in Niger since 2022.
The move protects key energy investments, including the planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline designed to transport Nigerian gas to Europe. Sahel instability remains a direct concern for Algiers due to shared borders with Mali, Niger, and Libya.
