Algerian parliament votes to send troops to Niger for oil protection

Algeria’s parliament approved a deployment of ground forces to Niger on Sunday. The People’s National Assembly ratified the measure, following a unanimous vote by the Council of the Nation earlier the same day. This action ends a long period of military restraint for the North African state.

Algeria has historically avoided sending troops abroad, a policy rooted in a focus on sovereignty. Since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, overseas missions have been rare. A 2020 constitutional revision established the current rules for such deployments. Under Article 91, the president can authorize foreign missions with the support of at least two-thirds of members in both parliamentary chambers.

The decision follows a series of diplomatic and military steps. In August, Algeria dispatched four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 jets, a transport plane, and an aerial refuelling aircraft to Niamey. Authorities framed that airlift as a response to efforts to destabilize Niger’s military-led government. Relations between the two nations have improved since February, when Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani visited Algiers. Previously, ties were strained by Algeria’s criticism of the 2023 coup in Niger and the downing of a Malian drone by Algerian forces in April.

Officials have not released specific numbers for the troop deployment or a timeline for arrival. The Associated Press reported that the soldiers will protect Algeria’s economic and strategic interests. A primary focus is guarding oil facilities in Niger operated by Sonatrach, the state-owned energy company. The mission also aims to secure the planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which is designed to carry Nigerian gas to Europe through Niger and Algeria.

Senator Belkacem Boulghiti addressed reporters after the vote. He stated that the mission is not to wage war but to secure economic infrastructure. He described the move as an adaptation of military doctrine to current circumstances. The deployment occurs as Algeria maintains the largest military budget in Africa, having spent more than $25 billion on its armed forces in 2025.

The Sahel region continues to face instability that affects Algiers directly. The country shares a long border with Mali, Niger, and Libya. Security challenges in the region have intensified since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s government, which allowed weapons and fighters to spread into neighboring states. Six military coups have occurred in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2012.

Foreign military presence in the region has changed recently. France withdrew its troops from Mali in August 2022, Burkina Faso in February 2023, and Niger in December 2023. Approximately 100 Russian personnel linked to Africa Corps arrived in Niamey in April 2024. The United States removed about 1,000 soldiers from Niger in 2024 after the military government ended their security agreement.