Algerian Parliament Authorizes Ground Troops for Niger Mission

The People's National Assembly ratified a plan to deploy Algerian troops to Niger on Sunday. This approval follows a unanimous endorsement from the Council of the Nation earlier the same day. The move represents a major shift for a country that has historically avoided foreign military entanglements.

Algerian authorities have not specified the number of soldiers or the exact timeline for the deployment. The mission is designed to protect economic and strategic interests, specifically the oil facilities in Niger operated by the state-owned energy company Sonatrach. Senator Belkacem Boulghiti told reporters that the force is not there to wage war but to secure economic infrastructure.

This parliamentary action follows an initial military step taken nearly two months ago. At that time, Algeria sent four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 jets, a transport aircraft, and an aerial refueling aircraft to Niamey. Officials described that earlier move as a response to efforts to destabilize the military-led government in Niger.

Diplomatic ties between the two nations have improved in recent months. Niger's President Abdourahamane Tchiani visited Algiers in February, and his defense minister, Salifou Mody, held security talks in Algeria. These interactions contrast with a period of strain caused by Algeria's condemnation of the 2023 coup and the subsequent recall of ambassadors by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso after an Algerian jet shot down a Malian drone in April.

The deployment is authorized under Article 91 of the 2020 constitutional revision, which requires two-thirds support from both parliamentary chambers for foreign missions. Overseas deployments have been rare since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Algeria currently spends more than $25 billion annually on its armed forces, making it the largest military spender in Africa according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The decision comes amid shifting security dynamics in the Sahel. France, the United States, and other partners have reduced or withdrawn troops from the region in recent years. Roughly 100 Russian personnel arrived in Niamey in April 2024 to provide equipment and training. The deployment may also help safeguard the planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which aims to transport Nigerian gas to Europe via Niger and Algeria.

Algeria shares a long border with Mali, Niger, and Libya. Instability in the region has roots in the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government, which allowed weapons and fighters to spread into neighboring states. Since 2012, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have experienced six military coups. Algeria recently cut ties with the United Arab Emirates in September, accusing Abu Dhabi of hostile actions without providing specific details.