Reuters reporting was compared with Anadolu’s account of both parliamentary votes. The original parliamentary statements were not retrieved directly. The destination and absence of an official deployment are attributed to Reuters; no arrival of troops is asserted.
Approval in both chambers
Algeria’s parliament approved sending army units to neighbouring Niger on October 25. The decision clears a parliamentary hurdle for a mission intended to protect Algerian energy interests, but authorities have not announced the force’s size or departure date.
Anadolu reported that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s proposal passed the Council of the Nation before receiving lower-house approval. All 148 participating senators supported it, including 17 voting by proxy. The lower chamber did not publish a numerical tally.
The upper house said the decision concerned energy security and implementation of a bilateral agreement. Anadolu reported that the planned detachment would protect state energy company Sonatrach’s oil projects at Niger’s request.
A base in northern Niger
Reuters, citing a parliamentary statement, identified Madama near the Libyan border as the intended destination. The location contains a former French military base. A Nigerien security source told Reuters that no troops had officially deployed.
The decision follows recent defence talks between the neighbours. Anadolu reported that they signed a military cooperation protocol during Nigerien Defence Minister Salifou Modi’s visit to Algeria last week.
The economic connection extends beyond oil: Sonatrach is working with Niger and Nigeria on the proposed Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, intended to carry African gas towards export markets, particularly Europe, Reuters reported.
Sources
2 references
- Reuters via InternazionaleAlgeria to send troops to Niger in first foreign deployment since 1973Independent reporting; syndicated Reuters article · 2026-10-25
- Anadolu AgencyAlgerian parliament approves deployment of army unit to NigerSeparate reporting quoting parliamentary statements · 2026-10-25
