Algeria Orders Ambassador’s Immediate Return to Niger as Diplomatic Ties Normalize

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the immediate return of Algeria’s ambassador to Niamey following the official resumption of duties by Niger’s ambassador on February 12, 2026, marking a key step in restoring full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The decision was announced Thursday in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the communiqué, the Head of State instructed the ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to return to the “sister Republic of Niger” without delay.

This move comes after the Nigerien ambassador’s return to Algiers and his formal resumption of diplomatic duties, signaling a clear breakthrough in the normalization process between Algiers and Niamey.

Strengthening Algeria–Niger Bilateral Relations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the measure reflects “the particular importance that the Head of State attaches to strengthening the ties of fraternity, cooperation, and good neighborliness between Algeria and Niger.”

Officials described the ambassador’s return as part of a broader political will to consolidate bilateral relations and reactivate consultation mechanisms between the two capitals.

According to the same source, the initiative is expected to:

• Revive high-level bilateral political dialogue

• Resume multifaceted cooperation between both countries

• Accelerate the implementation of strategic projects

• Support regional and continental integration efforts

  
  

In a regional context marked by security challenges and economic transformation, cooperation between Algeria and Niger is seen as a crucial lever for promoting stability and shared development across the Sahel and North Africa.

By reaffirming its diplomatic presence in Niamey, Algiers signals its commitment to constructive engagement and long-term partnership with its southern neighbor.

Attaf Holds Talks with Zimbabwe in Addis Ababa

In parallel with these diplomatic developments, Ahmed Attaf, Algeria’s Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Amon Murwira, on the sidelines of the Executive Council of the African Union in Addis Ababa.

During the bilateral talks, the two ministers reviewed ways to strengthen friendship and cooperation between Algeria and Zimbabwe. Discussions built on key decisions taken by the presidents of both countries during their talks in Algiers last July.

The meeting also addressed prospects for continued coordination at the African level, particularly on issues related to security, development, and continental integration.

A Broader Diplomatic Repositioning in Africa

These parallel diplomatic engagements underline Algeria’s renewed push to reinforce its African partnerships.

As geopolitical dynamics evolve across the Sahel and the wider continent, Algeria appears determined to consolidate its regional influence through dialogue, strategic projects, and multilateral coordination within the African Union framework.

The return of Algeria’s ambassador to Niger, combined with high-level consultations in Addis Ababa, signals a clear message: Algiers is prioritizing African diplomacy as a cornerstone of its foreign policy in 2026.