Algeria votes to send ground troops to Niger

Algeria has traditionally kept its military forces within its own borders. On Sunday, the country's lower house of parliament voted to break that long-standing practice.

The People's National Assembly ratified a plan to send troops to Niger. The upper house, the Council of the Nation, had already approved the measure unanimously earlier that same day. This marks a clear shift from a foreign policy that prioritized sovereignty and noninterference.

Officials have not specified the exact number of soldiers involved or the start date for the mission. The Associated Press reported that the troops are intended to safeguard Algeria's economic interests. Specifically, they will protect oil facilities in Niger owned by Sonatrach, the state-owned energy giant.

Senator Belkacem Boulghiti addressed reporters following the vote. He stated, "We are not sending our soldiers to wage war in Niger, but for a mission to secure economic infrastructure." Boulghiti described the move as an adaptation of doctrine to changing circumstances.

This decision follows a preliminary military move made in late August. At that time, Algeria deployed four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 jets, a transport plane, and a refueling aircraft to Niamey. Authorities framed that deployment as a response to perceived attempts to destabilize Niger's military-led government.

Relations between Algiers and Niamey have improved in recent months. Niger's President Abdourahamane Tchiani visited Algeria in February. His defense minister, Salifou Mody, subsequently traveled to Algiers to discuss security cooperation. Tensions had previously flared after Algeria criticized Niger's 2023 coup. Relations deteriorated further in April after the Algerian army shot down a Malian drone, leading Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to recall their ambassadors.

The constitutional basis for this mission is found in Article 91 of the 2020 revised constitution. That article allows the president to authorize overseas deployments with the support of at least two-thirds of members in each parliamentary chamber. Algeria has rarely operated outside its borders since participating in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Algeria possesses the largest military budget in Africa. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that the country spent more than $25 billion on its armed forces in 2025. The deployment comes amid ongoing diplomatic friction, including the severing of ties with the United Arab Emirates in September over alleged hostile actions.

Instability in the Sahel region remains a direct concern for Algiers, which shares long borders with Mali, Niger, and Libya. The current crisis is partly linked to the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government. Weapons and fighters from Libya spread into neighboring states, fueling a 2012 rebellion in northern Mali. Since 2012, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have collectively experienced six military coups.

Foreign military presence in the region has also changed. France withdrew its troops from Mali in August 2022, Burkina Faso in February 2023, and Niger in December 2023. The United States removed approximately 1,000 soldiers from Niger in 2024. Roughly 100 Russian personnel linked to Africa Corps arrived in Niamey in April 2024 to provide equipment and training. The deployment may also protect the planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which is designed to carry Nigerian gas to Europe through Niger and Algeria.