While French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was making a two-day visit to Algiers on Monday at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart Said Saioud, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was, at the same time, receiving the head of the Nigerian Military Council, Abderrahmane Tiani, who accuses France of seeking to destabilize his country and financing jihadists. Was the coincidence of the two visits a mere coincidence?

Published on: 02/18/2026 - 18:14 Last updated: 02/19/2026 - 17:57

The Algerian authorities focused Monday and Tuesday on easing tensions with Niger and France, the two vital partners with whom their relations witnessed major setbacks last year.

The head of the ruling Nigerian military junta, General Abderrahmane Tiani, arrived in Algeria on Sunday, in an indication that the two countries are returning to the diplomatic track, 11 months after the Malian drone incident, which caused the severing of diplomatic relations between Algeria and the Sahel coalition countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger).

Read also: Algeria responds to Mali’s accusations from the United Nations, describing them as “vulgar gossip” that raises “disgust”

However, in parallel with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s reception of Abderrahmane Tiani on Monday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez arrived in the Algerian capital, where he was received by his Algerian counterpart Said Saioud, in an effort to restore warmth to bilateral relations between the two sides, and alleviate the severity of the diplomatic crisis that reached its peak in 2025.

This coincidence in the two visits prompted several observers to wonder about the background and whether this was a mere coincidence, especially since it came only days after fiery statements issued by Niamey against Paris, where Nigerian Chief of Staff Amadou Ebro said last Wednesday that he was preparing for war against the former colonial power. The general, who is close to the leader of the military junta, added that France will launch a “war on Niger” because the latter is responsible for the “deterioration of the economic situation” in France. He added: "Know that we will enter into war with France."

Homeland security is a priority for Laurent Nunez

Laurent Nunez's visit came within the framework of the "gradual path" that Emmanuel Macron indicated in November and aims to revive French-Algerian relations.

In response, a source familiar with this file said: “During recent months, contacts were made and security meetings were held between specialists in matters of movement of individuals and immigration” between Algeria and France. Adding: “In light of the talks, the minister considered it an appropriate time to visit Algeria and accept the invitation of his Algerian counterpart.”

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In fact, tensions between the two capitals have escalated since Macron recognized Morocco's "sovereignty" over Western Sahara, which Algeria viewed as treason. The tensions focused especially on specific issues, most notably the issue of Algerian nationals against whom deportation orders were issued, the case of Boualem Sansal [released on November 12 through German mediation], and then Paris’s accusation that Algeria was involved in the “kidnapping” of the influential Amir De Zad on French soil.

The crisis between the two countries reached its peak in April with the expulsion of diplomats.

Read also: The French Interior Minister in Algeria and Paris hope to reactivate security cooperation

Since then, France has replaced its Interior Minister Bruno Rotayo, a supporter of escalating the confrontation with Algeria, to be succeeded by former Director General of Internal Security DJSE. In this regard, Hosni Abidi, a political analyst specializing in Algerian affairs, said that Laurent Nunez “enjoys competence in technical aspects, has extensive knowledge of security affairs, and is less inclined to politicize the relationship with Algeria.”

The French Minister's agenda during this visit included in particular the issue of cooperation between police agencies, specifically in the field of combating drug smuggling and irregular migration, as well as people against whom OQTF deportation orders were issued, in addition to the demand for facilitating visas that Algeria wants. Unannounced is the case of Christophe Glez, the French journalist who was sentenced by the Algerian judiciary on June 29, 2025 to seven years in prison on charges of “promoting terrorism.”

In fact, Sansal's pardon prompted the Glez family to also dream of their son being released during the appeal hearing. Upholding the primary ruling was a severe blow to her. At the end of January, the Algerian authorities transferred this journalist from Tizi Ouzou prison to Kolea prison on the outskirts of Algiers, which facilitated visits.

Regarding this issue, a source familiar with the file told France 24, “The case of Christophe Glez is not a matter of negotiation. He will appeal to the Court of Cassation, after which we hope to obtain a pardon. This issue is being discussed in complete confidentiality.”

It can also be said that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's reception, on Tuesday afternoon, of Laurent Nunez, and then the latter's announcement, in a brief statement at the conclusion of his visit, of an agreement with Algeria on the resumption of "high-level security cooperation", is another positive indicator of a possible breakthrough in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Economic and security talks with Niger

But before that, another visit to the Algerian presidential palace received wide media attention, which was the visit of the head of the Nigerian Military Council, Abderrahmane Tiani, who was invited by Abdelmadjid Tebboune for an official friendly visit, accompanied by an important delegation that included 11 ministers, and wearing a civilian suit for the occasion, in accordance with the protocol followed for official visits to the Mouradia Palace.

During the visit, Tebboune announced the launch of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (Gazoduc) project, which passes through the territory of Niger to transport gas extracted in Nigeria to Algeria, and from there supply the countries of the Sahel region and facilitate the export of this vital material to Europe as well.

This project was scheduled for early 2025, but it was hampered by tensions between Algeria and Mali, especially after the Mali Mali incident. “It was in Niger’s interest to reconcile with Algeria because of energy issues, especially with the investments of Sonatrach [the Algerian state oil and gas company - editor’s note], but also for security reasons, because the two countries share more than 900 kilometers of common border,” Abidi explains.

On February 12, the two countries officially resumed diplomatic relations with their ambassadors returning to Algiers and Niamey. Later, three days later, Burkina Faso also received an Algerian delegation to enhance cooperation in the mining and energy sectors.

Read also Maghreb Pulse: Reading into the background of the resumption of dialogue between Algeria and Niger

During his visit, Tiani praised in his speech Algeria's "solidarity" after the military coup that his country witnessed in July 2023, recalling that Algeria opposed military intervention in Niger, which the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said was a way to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power, before he was eventually abandoned.

On the other hand, the head of the ruling Nigerian military junta did not address the outstanding crisis with Bamako, which constantly accuses Algeria of supporting jihadist groups and interfering in its internal affairs. Does this mean that Niger may play a mediating role to resolve the conflict between Algeria and Mali? Or will it keep its distance from its ECOWAS ally?

Algeria, mediator between France and Niger?

While the visit was an occasion for reconciliation with Algeria, Tiani did not hesitate to attack France again, which he accuses of manipulating “some African leaders” in order to “wage war against the Nigerian people,” according to him. These statements came while Laurent Nunez was receiving his Algerian counterpart at Algiers airport.

In this context, a French diplomatic source explained to France 24: “We were not aware of the Nigerian leader’s visit, but all indications indicate that it was merely a scheduling conflict.” Adding that this busy diplomatic schedule on the Algerian side can be traced back to the advent of Ramadan on Thursday, a month in which official activities are significantly reduced.

But in reality, in recent days, Niger has intensified its tone against France, while channels of diplomatic communication remain cut off since the coup of July 23, 2023. General Tiani even said during a lengthy interview for about 5 hours broadcast on Friday on national television (RTN), that “mercenaries funded by France” were behind the attack on Niamey Airport on the night of January 28, not caring whether the extremist “Islamic State” organization claimed responsibility for the attack.

In any case, although the coincidence of the visits of the French minister and the Nigerien leader seems to be just a coincidence, Hosni Abidi pointed out the possibility that Algeria would play a mediation role to resolve the crisis between the two countries. In this regard, he says: “Some important security issues for France and Algeria are also related to security in the Sahel region.” The political analyst continued: "Niamey's story about the airport attack is not accurate, because a state of instability in this region is not in France's interest. If relations improve between France and Algeria, the latter may work to convey messages between the French and the Nigerien authorities."

Read also: The visit of French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to Algeria: a real test for reducing the escalation between the two countries?

Before his visit to Algeria, Laurent Nunez said that “all security issues” would be on the table for discussion, including combating terrorism in the Sahel and exchanging intelligence information with Algeria.

For his part, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed during a press conference with General Tiani that his country is “in the same camp” as Niger with regard to combating terrorism, promising to cooperate with it “to the maximum extent by harnessing all the capabilities and expertise” that his country possesses in this field.

The original text is in French, translated into Arabic by: Tariq Balqin

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