Niger: Algerian army authorized to deploy to former French base at Madama

Algeria’s parliament unanimously approved on October 25, 2026, the deployment of troops to Madama in northern Niger, at a former French military base. The deployment would be the Algerian army’s first abroad since 1973. France established the base in 2014 as part of Operation Barkhane, and its last troops left Niger in December 2023 after the July coup. The move comes as ties between Algiers and Niamey have recently improved, including visits to Algiers by Nigerien leader Abdourahamane Tiani and Defense Minister Salifou Mody.