Algeria’s president orders troop deployment to neighbouring Niger
Summary
Algeria’s president ordered a troop deployment to Niger after both chambers of parliament approved the move. Algeria says Niger requested military assistance, but officials have not said how many soldiers will go or when; the stated goal is to protect shared economic interests and infrastructure.Key Facts
- Algeria’s parliament approved the deployment in an emergency session on Sunday.
- Algeria’s presidency said Niger’s authorities requested military assistance.
- Senator Belkacem Boulghiti said the troops would protect economic infrastructure, especially Algerian oil facilities in Niger.
- Algeria has not announced the number of soldiers or the deployment date.
- A 2020 constitutional reform allows overseas military deployments with approval from at least two-thirds of legislators in each parliamentary chamber.
- State-owned energy company Sonatrach is working with Niger on a proposed gas pipeline that would carry Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria for export to Europe.
- The deployment would be Algeria’s first overseas military deployment since it sent soldiers to Egypt in 1973, if carried out.
- Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are governed by military leaders and have faced attacks by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
