Algerian Senate Authorizes 148-28 Vote to Station Troops in Niger

Algeria’s upper chamber of parliament voted 148 to 28 on Sunday to authorize the country’s first overseas military deployment since 1973. The approval came after an emergency session convened to address the proposal, which was subsequently supported by the lower house of parliament.

The primary objective of the mission is to secure economic infrastructure in northern Niger, specifically near the Libyan border. Algerian officials stated that the forces are not intended to wage war but to protect strategic energy sites. This includes a planned gas pipeline that would transport Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria.

The move represents a shift in policy, utilizing a 2020 constitutional provision that permits overseas military operations. For decades, Algeria adhered to a strict stance against sending troops abroad, with the last such instance occurring during the Arab-Israeli war in 1973 when forces were sent to Egypt.

The deployment follows a period of diplomatic strain between the two neighbors. In 2025, Niger recalled its ambassador to Algiers in solidarity with Mali after Algeria shot down a Malian drone. That rift had been preceded by Algeria’s condemnation of the 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and installed General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Relations have improved recently. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent fighter jets to Niger in late August to help suppress a coup attempt and donated four military helicopters. General Tchiani visited Algeria in February 2026, and Niger’s defense minister recently traveled to Algiers to seek support against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Algeria’s state-owned energy company, Sonatrach, has signed an agreement with Niger’s petroleum ministry to explore for oil in the Kafra region. According to Reuters, two exploration wells in that area are estimated to contain 168 million and 100 million barrels of oil, respectively.

Senator Belkacem Boulghiti told reporters after the vote that the mission is focused on securing economic infrastructure. The specific timing of the deployment and the exact number of soldiers to be sent have not yet been announced.