**Niger Junta Chief in Algiers: ‘New Dynamic’ Declared as Gas Pipeline Project Revived**
The leader of Niger’s military junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has proclaimed the beginning of a “new dynamic” in relations with Algeria following high-level talks in Algiers.
General Tiani met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Monday, where the pair announced the green light for the construction of a long-stalled trans-Saharan gas pipeline. The meeting signalled a significant thaw in relations, which President Tebboune described as closing “an abnormal period of chilliness” between the two neighbours.
The diplomatic rift began in April, when Algeria shot down a drone originating from Mali—a fellow member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), alongside Niger and Burkina Faso. In response, all three AES nations recalled their ambassadors from Algiers, a move Algeria reciprocated.
Despite those recent tensions, the focus of Monday’s talks was firmly on economic cooperation. The centerpiece is the revival of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, a colossal 4,000-kilometre project designed to transport natural gas from extraction points in Nigeria through Niger to Algeria. Though the project has been on the drawing board for over 15 years, plans had begun to accelerate in early 2025 before the diplomatic fallout. Initial construction steps are now expected to commence after Ramadan.
Beyond the pipeline, President Tebboune pledged broader support for Niger, which is currently grappling with severe economic difficulties. He outlined plans for future cooperation in the health and education sectors.
While relations with Niger appear to be on the mend, Algeria’s ties with other AES members remain mixed. A delegation was sent to Burkina Faso last week to discuss mining and hydrocarbons, suggesting a willingness to engage. However, relations with Mali remain strained, with Bamako continuing to accuse Algeria of maintaining ties with terrorist groups along their shared border.
