148 Senators Approve Algeria's First Foreign Mission Since 1973
The vote authorizes troops to protect gas infrastructure in Niger, marking a shift in military policy and a thaw in diplomatic relations.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Algeria has approved the deployment of troops to Niger, its first such mission since 1973.
The Algerian Senate held an emergency session on Sunday to consider the proposal. According to the AFP news agency, 148 of the 174 senators voted in favor. The lower house of parliament subsequently backed the measure. No announcement has been made regarding the specific number of soldiers or the timeline for their arrival.
The decision follows a 2020 constitutional provision that permits overseas military deployments. Until now, Algeria maintained a long-standing policy against sending forces abroad. The most recent foreign deployment occurred in 1973, when Algerian forces were sent to Egypt during the Arab-Israeli war. This new mission represents a notable change in the country's military posture.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations have fluctuated in recent years. Algeria condemned the 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and installed General Abdourahamane Tchiani. Tensions escalated further in 2025 when Algeria shot down a Malian drone near its border. Niger recalled its ambassador to Algiers in solidarity with Mali, a close ally also under military rule. Relations have improved since that rift. General Tchiani visited Algeria in February 2026. In late August, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent fighter jets to help suppress a coup attempt in Niger and donated four military helicopters.
Niger’s defense minister recently visited Algiers to seek support against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Algeria holds economic interests in the region, including a planned gas pipeline that would transport Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria. The troops are expected to protect energy facilities in northern Niger, near the Libyan border. 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."
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 contain 168 million and 100 million barrels of oil, respectively. The deployment aligns with these commercial interests and the goal of securing the energy corridor.
The vote concludes the legislative process for the mission. The next step involves logistical planning for the troop movement. The specific dates and unit sizes remain under discussion.
