Algeria approves army deployment to Niger, its first official foreign troop mission since 1973, for energy-site security

Algeria has approved deploying army units to Niger, a mission described as limited to securing oil and energy facilities rather than taking part in combat.

The deployment would be Algeria’s first official foreign troop mission since it sent forces to support Egypt in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

The units are set to go to Madama in northern Niger, near the Libyan border, at a former French base used during Operation Barkhane. The facilities to be secured include the Kafra oil block, which is operated by Algeria’s state energy company Sonatrach.