Algeria has had fallout with Mali, certainly, the military posturing will likely not go beyond mere demonstrations of force, but the fact remains that diplomatic and economic relations are at a standstill. And who took advantage to place their pieces in Bamako with promising projects? Morocco. So, there was no question of repeating the same mistake with Niger, no question of allowing a long-term rift with Mali’s neighbor. Algiers did things differently this time, and this strategy is paying off…
Things are restarting strongly between Algiers and Niamey
A delegation of experts from the Algerian oil company Sonatrach is on a week-long working visit to Niger to work on a project involving the construction of a refinery and a petrochemical complex, announced the company in a statement published on Thursday, January 9. The delegation was even received by the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum, Sahabi Oumarou, according to the same source. It adds that this facility, to be located in the city of Dosso (Southwest), is part of “Algeria’s commitment to support Niger in transforming its natural resources into sustainable development opportunities.”
From a hydrocarbon perspective, the country is well-endowed, and the infrastructure is following suit. Algeria’s assistance, now a leader in the field, will help reach higher levels, with the added symbolism of South-South and intra-African cooperation. An orientation that enhances Algeria’s growth in Africa, following the steps set towards the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area).
Sonatrach has stated that a group of Nigerien engineers and technicians will be welcomed in Algerian refineries to receive specialized training, led by experts from the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP). The Nigerien Petroleum Minister declared that this program “is a crucial step towards achieving energy sovereignty and an essential foundation for Niger’s economic transition, as it contributes to meeting national needs, job creation, strengthening local content, and attracting investments”…
The refinery is expected to have a production capacity of 30,000 barrels per day, expandable to 100,000 barrels per day, according to the Algerian public company. It should be noted that this partnership follows a visit by the Nigerien Prime Minister to Algiers last August, accompanied by a significant ministerial delegation.
End of ECOWAS’s Wrath and the Bazoum Dream, Time for Business
Yet, Algiers and Niamey have come a long way. After the coup on July 26, 2023, Algerian authorities had joined ECOWAS voices in attempting mediation for a return to constitutional order and the reinstatement of the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The Algerian government had then formalized the military authorities’ agreement for political talks “for a maximum of six months […] with the participation and approval of all parties in Niger without exclusion” to move towards “restoring constitutional order in the country.”
However, the Nigerien Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, claimed otherwise, saying he had learned the terms of this mediation through social media, essentially accusing Algeria of “manipulation.” Needless to say, Algiers didn’t like that. This was compounded by the tug-of-war over the migration crisis. The peak was in early April 2024 when the Algerian ambassador in Niamey was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to denounce the violence of the expulsion waves of thousands of migrants at the border between the two countries.
Officially, partners have exited the turbulence zone. Meanwhile, the Nigerien junta has shown it will cling to power, making any hope of Bazoum’s return an illusion. All of the country’s partners, including democracies like Germany and the USA, have adjusted to the new reality. Even ECOWAS, which had threatened military intervention to oust the coup leaders, eventually changed its tone. This did not prevent Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all led by coup leaders, from leaving the organization, arguing it was a conduit for France.
Therefore, Algiers could not be more royalist than ECOWAS; it too showed pragmatism by reconnecting with Niger’s military leaders. Bilateral relations have significantly strengthened in recent months, a dynamic from which hydrocarbons are benefiting. Sonatrach has resumed its projects in the neighboring country; the Algerian public company has even intensified its investments in the Nigerien Kafra oil field. The two wells drilled on this block, which spans 23,737 km², should allow Niger to increase its oil production to 90,000 barrels per day.
