Algeria's upper house approves plan to send troops to Niger

Algeria's upper house of parliament on Sunday approved a plan to send troops to neighbouring Niger to protect energy facilities, a senator told the AFP news agency. The senator, who was not named, said 148 of the 174 senators voted in favour.

The lower house was due to vote later on Sunday and was expected to approve the move as well. Under a 2020 change to Algeria's constitution, sending troops abroad needs the backing of two-thirds of parliament.

If it goes ahead, it would be the first time Algeria has deployed troops outside its borders since it sent forces to support Egypt in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Why this matters

Algeria and Niger share a 960-kilometre desert border. Niger faces persistent attacks by armed groups, including in areas near the border with Algeria, and the two countries have agreed to work more closely against jihadist violence, cross-border crime and trafficking.

The vote comes after Niger's defence minister, Salifou Modi, visited Algeria last Wednesday and met President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and army chief Said Chengriha. Algerian reports said the two sides signed a military cooperation agreement, but no details were made public.

Algeria has also given Niger four military helicopters, which its defence ministry said were sent at the request of Nigerien authorities, and opened a 40-megawatt power plant in June to supply electricity to Niamey and nearby areas.

The neighbours are also working on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, a project to export natural gas to Europe from Nigeria via Niger. Researcher Abdellah Akir told AFP the troop plan was driven by the need to protect Algeria's interests in the Sahel and secure the future pipeline.

In a televised address on October 3, Tebboune said: "We will protect Niger no matter what." He said Algeria had reached agreements with Niger in oil, mining and other sectors.

Analyst Geoff Porter of North Africa Risk Consulting told AFP the move showed a shift in Algerian policy, from dialogue and international forums towards a more physical presence.

Niger has been run by General Abdourahamane Tiani since a July 2023 coup that removed elected president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held since then. Ties between Algiers and Niamey had been strained for months after Algeria shot down a drone from Mali last year, but the two sides have since moved to repair relations.

What happens next

The lower house was expected to vote on Sunday. Under the 2020 constitutional change, any deployment needs two-thirds approval from parliament.