The Algerian Parliament has authorized the deployment of a military detachment to Niger, tasked with securing Sonatrach International Exploration and Production (SIPEX) operations. Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf emphasized that the mission is strictly non-combatant and peaceful, undertaken at the request of Nigerien authorities. This security measure focuses on protecting Algeria's economic interests, particularly at the Kafra oil field, which serves as a central hub for energy cooperation between the two nations. Sonatrach has been operating in the region since 2005 and, in August 2026, commenced a new drilling program for four exploration wells through its subsidiary ENAFOR. These efforts are intended to gather geological data to assess potential reserves, which Nigerien officials have estimated to hold up to 2.5 billion barrels of prospective oil resources.