Power plant, gas pipeline: how Algiers reconquers Niamey after the rift with Bamako

Since spring 2025, Algeria has faced a deep diplomatic crisis with Mali and its AES allies (Burkina Faso, Niger) after the Algerian army shot down a Malian drone near Tin Zaouatine. In April 2025, ambassadors were recalled and airspace closed. In September 2025, Malian PM Abdoulaye Maïga accused Algiers of supporting terrorism, while Algerian FM Ahmed Attaf replied with insults. To break the isolation, President Tebboune focuses on Niger, a key partner in the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP). On June 3, 2026, Algiers inaugurates a power plant in Niamey, symbolizing a diplomatic comeback.