Algeria's Upper House Approves Troop Deployment to Niger

Algeria's upper house of parliament unanimously approved on October 25, 2026, the deployment of Algerian troops to Niger. The lower house, the People's National Assembly, was expected to hold a separate vote on the plan later the same day, according to Al Jazeera.

Under Algeria's constitution, the president can send military units abroad, but only if both chambers of parliament approve by a two-thirds majority. The upper house, known as the Council of the Nation, has now given its approval. If the lower house also agrees, the Niger deployment would be Algeria's first military mission outside its borders since the 1973 October War, also called the Yom Kippur War.

The Algerian units are expected to be tasked with securing oil facilities in Niger, the same source reported.

The plan follows a series of contacts between the two countries. Niger's Defence Minister, General Salifou Modi, visited Algeria in the week before October 25 and held talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Chief of Staff General Said Chanegriha. Algeria and Niger signed a military cooperation protocol on October 21, according to Xinhua.

Earlier in October, Tebboune confirmed that Algeria had sent fighter jets to Niger in late August to help thwart a coup attempt in Niamey. Algeria's Ministry of Defence said two patrols of four Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft landed at Niamey airport, accompanied by an air-to-air refuelling plane. The ministry said the mission was carried out at the request of Nigerien authorities to support the Nigerien army.