Algeria's Upper House Approves Sending Troops to Niger, Lower House Vote Still to Come

The upper house of Algeria's parliament has unanimously approved the deployment of troops to neighbouring Niger. The vote came after the two neighbouring countries recently signed a defence pact. The decision now requires the approval of parliament's lower house to take effect.

Under Algeria's constitution, the president may send military units abroad, provided that both chambers of parliament approve the move by a two-thirds majority. As part of that constitutional process, the upper house, the Council of the Nation, held an emergency session on Sunday and voted in favour of the deployment.

According to Algeria's popular newspaper El Khabar, the lower house, the People's National Assembly, is expected to hold a separate session later in the evening to vote on the matter. If the lower house also approves, the proposed deployment will be finalised.

If approved, it would be Algeria's first military mission outside its borders since 1973. That year saw a war between Israel and several Arab countries, known to Arabs as the October War and to Israelis as the Yom Kippur War.

The Algerian military units to be deployed are expected to be tasked with securing oil facilities in Niger. No details have yet been made public about the size, timing or duration of the deployment.

The vote followed a visit to Algeria last week by Niger's Defence Minister, General Salifou Modi. During the visit he held talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and with the Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, General Said Chanegriha.

During that same visit, the two sides signed a military cooperation protocol. The detailed terms of the protocol were not made public. The parliamentary vote is being seen as a continuation of that military cooperation framework.

Earlier this month, President Tebboune confirmed that Algeria had sent fighter jets to Niger in late August. He said they were sent to help thwart a reported coup attempt that had shaken the capital, Niamey.

Algeria's Ministry of Defence had previously said it sent aircraft to Niger following the unrest. According to the ministry, patrols of Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft landed at Niamey airport, accompanied by an air-to-air refuelling plane.

In a statement on August 30, the Defence Ministry said the warplanes were deployed at the request of the Nigerien authorities. It described the mission as one 'to support the Nigerien army in confronting an attempt to destabilise the brotherly state of Niger'.

Over the past few months, relations between Algeria and Niger have witnessed a significant rapprochement on political, diplomatic, military and economic levels, following a period of tension between the two countries. Against that backdrop, observers see the parliamentary vote as a new stage in the two countries' military relationship.

All eyes are now on the lower house session. If the proposal passes there with the required majority as well, Algerian soldiers will head out on a mission beyond the country's borders for the first time in more than half a century.