"New Dynamic": Algeria & Niger Revive Relations as Energy Plans Advance

Niger and Algeria have declared the beginning of a diplomatic reset following talks in Algiers that centered on reviving a long-delayed energy corridor, underscoring how infrastructure diplomacy is reshaping political alignments across North and West Africa.

President of Niger General Abdourahamane Tiani, met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Monday, marking Tiani’s first visit to Algeria since relations deteriorated last year. The leaders framed the meeting as the start of a “new dynamic,” signaling an effort to stabilize ties after months of strain involving Algeria and members of the Alliance of Sahel States.

Diplomatic Freeze and Repair

President Tebboune described the visit as closing “an abnormal period of chilliness” between the two neighbors. Tensions had escalated in April 2025, when Algeria shot down a Malian drone, triggering a coordinated response from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. All three countries recalled their ambassadors from Algiers, with Algeria responding in kind.

The episode exposed fractures between Algeria and the Sahel bloc, a grouping that has sought greater autonomy in regional security and foreign policy.

While ties with Niger and Burkina Faso now show signs of repair, Algeria’s relationship with Mali remains tense, with Bamako accusing Algiers of maintaining contacts with armed groups along their shared border.

Pipeline as Strategic Lever

Central to Monday’s discussions was the 4,000-kilometer Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), a project conceived more than 15 years ago to transport Nigerian natural gas northward to Algeria for export.

The pipeline would traverse Niger’s territory, giving Niamey a critical transit role in one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure plans.

Officials indicated that initial implementation steps are expected to begin after Ramadan, suggesting renewed momentum following earlier delays.

Plans for the TSGP had accelerated in early 2025, before diplomatic tensions between Algeria and Sahel states disrupted progress.

Energy Security Calculations

For Nigeria, the pipeline represents an additional export route at a time when European and Mediterranean energy diversification efforts continue.

For Algeria, it strengthens its position as a regional gas hub.

For Niger, the project offers potential transit revenues and geopolitical leverage amid what officials describe as severe economic difficulties.

Economic Support and Soft Power

Following the meeting, Tebboune pledged Algerian support for Niger, citing prospective cooperation in the health and education sectors. The move aligns with Algeria’s broader engagement strategy across the Sahel. Last week, Algiers dispatched a delegation to Burkina Faso to discuss partnerships in mining and hydrocarbons.

The recalibration suggests Algeria is seeking to rebuild influence with Sahel governments after last year’s diplomatic rupture, using economic cooperation and infrastructure alignment as stabilizing tools.