Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced Monday that construction on a long-delayed trans-Saharan gas pipeline through Niger will begin following the conclusion of Ramadan, marking a significant step in mending fractured relations between the neighbouring nations.

The announcement came during a joint press conference in Algiers with Nigerien leader Abdourahamane Tchiani. 

Following the announcement, the state energy giant Sonatrach is slated to lead the project, which aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria through Niger and Algeria to the European market.

“We agreed to launch the project to complete the trans-Saharan gas pipeline through Nigerien territory,” Tebboune said, according to the state news agency APS. 

“Sonatrach will take the lead and will begin laying the pipeline that passes through Niger,” he added.

The pipeline project is the centrepiece of a broader diplomatic reconciliation after months of tensions. 

Relations between Algiers and Niamey soured last April after Niger, along with allies Mali and Burkina Faso, recalled ambassadors following a dispute over alleged airspace violations involving military drones. 

Algeria responded in kind, leading to a 10-month period of "coldness" that Tebboune described on Monday as "abnormal."

The thaw began in earnest last week when Algeria’s ambassador, Ahmed Saadi, returned to Niamey, following the reinstatement of Niger’s envoy to Algiers. 

Tchiani’s arrival on Sunday for high-level talks signals a return to cooperation on critical infrastructure and security along their shared 950-kilometer (590-mile) border.

In February 2025, the two countries, alongside Nigeria, signed an agreement to advance the development of the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline. 

However, the cooperation between Algeria and Niger went cold following accusations of airspace violations by military drones. 

Beyond the energy sector, the two leaders committed to enhancing collaboration in military education, vocational training, and security. 

The trans-Saharan pipeline is one of several major regional initiatives, including the Trans-Saharan Highway, intended to integrate the economies of North and West Africa.

“We will preserve the friendship that has united us with Niger for generations,” Tebboune said.

The project’s resumption is a strategic win for Algeria, which seeks to solidify its role as a primary energy hub for Europe while stabilizing its southern frontier through economic partnerships.