Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune says Algeria deployed fighter jets to Niger's capital Niamey in late August to help counter what he described as a coup attempt following an attack by mutineers.
Key facts
- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Algeria sent fighter jets to Niger.
- The deployment was to the capital, Niamey.
- Tebboune said the warplanes were sent in late August.
- The deployment followed an attack by mutineers, according to the president.
- Tebboune described the events as a coup attempt.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said that Algeria deployed fighter jets to neighbouring Niger in an effort to thwart what he described as a coup attempt, according to Al Jazeera.
Tebboune said the warplanes were sent to Niger’s capital, Niamey, in late August. The deployment, he said, came in response to an attack by mutineers.
The president’s account frames the Algerian action as a direct intervention aimed at countering the attempt to seize power in Niger.
Al Jazeera reported the president’s remarks, which detail the timing of the deployment and the circumstances that prompted it.
Beyond the statements attributed to Tebboune, further details on the scope, duration and outcome of the deployment were not provided in the available reporting.
Why it matters
The reported deployment signals Algeria's willingness to intervene militarily in the affairs of a neighbouring state, which could have significant implications for regional stability in the Sahel. Niger has experienced political turbulence in recent years, and cross-border military involvement by Algeria marks a notable development for the region.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Algeria send fighter jets to Niger?
According to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria deployed warplanes to help thwart what he described as a coup attempt that followed an attack by mutineers.
When did the deployment take place?
President Tebboune said the fighter jets were sent to Niamey in late August.
Where were the Algerian jets deployed?
The president said the warplanes were deployed to Niamey, the capital of Niger.