Algeria to send troops to Niger in first foreign deployment since 1973
Algeria plans to send troops to Niger to protect energy facilities in the north, marking its first overseas deployment since it sent forces to Egypt during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The move signals a major shift in Algeria’s longstanding policy against deploying troops abroad and comes as Niger seeks help against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Algeria’s parliament approved the deployment, with 148 of 174 upper-house senators voting in favour, followed by support from the lower house. The number of troops and timing remain unannounced; Algeria says their mission is to secure infrastructure, including energy projects. These include a planned gas pipeline and oil exploration by state-owned Sonatrach, whose two wells are estimated to hold 168 million and 100 million barrels. Relations between the neighbours have improved after a 2025 diplomatic rift.
In short
- Algeria plans its first foreign troop deployment since 1973.
- The troops are expected to protect energy facilities in northern Niger.
- Parliament approved the move, but troop numbers and timing are unknown.
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The case for
Deploying troops could help Niger protect energy facilities and projects from armed groups, reducing risks to workers and infrastructure while supporting economic development. With parliamentary approval and Niger seeking assistance, Algeria could frame the mission as a limited response to a neighbouring country’s security needs and a way to strengthen regional stability.
The case against
Sending troops abroad breaks with Algeria’s longstanding policy and could draw it into a wider or prolonged conflict, putting soldiers and civilians at risk. A mission to protect energy infrastructure may also raise concerns about whose interests it serves, while a foreign deployment could inflame tensions or weaken local efforts to address the insecurity.