Algeria and Niger are moving from strong economic cooperation to strategic and security cooperation, as witnessed by the visit of a high level delegation from Niger to Algeria. General Mohamed Toumba—who serves as Niger’s Minister of State, Minister of the Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration—led the delegation, which also included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad Bakary Yaou Sangaré. The two were received by the President of Algeria, Abdelmajid Tebboune, on May 19.
On top of the agenda was enhancing cooperation in securing and joint protection of common borders; combating cross-border crime and terrorism in the Sahel; Energy and infrastructure; Agriculture and food security. Special attention was paid to coordinating efforts to stabilize the Sahel region. This is highly significant given the fact that Niger and its allies in the Alliance of Sahel States, namely Mali and Burkina Faso have been in a struggle against terrorists and separatist groups that have been operating along the Niger-Algerian border regions.
The meeting with both the military and civilian officials of both countries, follows a series of meetings and signing of agreements that have taken place only in the last few months. These agreements include the relaunch of work to complete the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline, and the construction of the “Friendship Power Station,” being built by Algeria.
