Algerian upper house of parliament approves troop deployment to Niger

Algeria’s upper house of parliament has approved deploying troops to Niger to protect its energy facilities.

The country’s Council of Nations approved the deployment during an emergency session on Sunday, while the lower house is expected to hold a session on Monday.

If the deployment is approved in the lower parliament, it means the country is highly likely to deploy troops to protect its facilities located along the border area in the north of Niger, particularly the Kafra oil region and other energy facilities linked to Algeria’s state-owned energy company Sonatrach.

If approved, it would also be the first mission outside Algeria’s borders since the 1973 War between Israel and several Arab countries.

The vote came after Niger’s Defence Minister, Salifou Modi, visited Algeria. Mr Modi met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, Said Chanegriha, last week. Both countries signed a military cooperation protocol during the meeting. But the details of the cooperation were not made public.

Mr Tebboune had also earlier disclosed that Algeria sent fighter jets to Niger in late August to help thwart a “coup attempt” that shook the capital, Niamey.

The Algerian Ministry of Defence previously said it had sent four jets to Niger following the unrest. It said two patrols of four Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft had landed at Niamey airport, accompanied by an air-to-air refuelling plane.

The ministry said the warplanes were deployed at the request of Nigerien authorities on “a mission to support the Nigerien army in confronting an attempt to destabilise the brotherly state of Niger.”

Niger’s defence minister, Salifou Mody, said a group of soldiers, in August, detained some of their comrades and opened fire at “certain sensitive sites” in the capital.

Fighting between the group and Niger forces lasted for several hours, during which the state broadcaster was temporarily taken off air, while gunfire and explosions were reported around the airport and presidential palace.

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Niger faces persistent attacks by armed groups, including in areas near the border with Algeria.

The country has also grown increasingly isolated since the democratic government was overthrown in 2023. The military junta cut off relations with France, leading to the complete withdrawal of French and US troops.

It withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2025, alongside Burkina Faso and Mali.

This vacuum has forced Niger to seek alternative regional and Western allies.