ALGIERS — Algeria’s upper house of parliament voted unanimously Sunday to approve a presidential decision to deploy military forces to neighboring Niger to protect oil projects operated by state-owned energy company Sonatrach.
The Council of the Nation approved the deployment during a closed-door emergency session, according to Anadolu Agency.
Members of the council had been summoned Thursday to attend the extraordinary meeting to consider the presidential decision.
Lawmakers told local media that the deployment would involve sending a detachment of the People’s National Army to secure Sonatrach’s oil projects in Niger.
The People’s National Assembly, Algeria’s lower house of parliament, is expected to convene Sunday evening to vote on the same decision.
Under Article 91 of Algeria’s Constitution, the president may authorize the deployment of military units abroad only after securing approval from a two-thirds majority in both chambers of parliament.
The proposed deployment would mark a significant development in Algeria’s military policy, potentially representing the country’s first overseas troop deployment since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
The operation remains subject to approval by the lower house before the deployment can proceed.
Source: Saudi Gazette