Madar (Algiers) - The European Union said on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, that it "fully" respects the sovereignty of Algeria and Niger, stressing that Algeria's decision to deploy military units on Nigerien territory falls "exclusively" within bilateral relations between the two countries, Algeria's official news agency APS reported from Brussels.
EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Anouar El Anouni was speaking at a press conference at the European Commission's headquarters. Asked about the summoning of the EU ambassador in Algeria and the EU charge d'affaires in Niger, he said these steps were in line with practices established by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, according to APS.
The spokesperson said the EU has no wish to interfere in the affairs of the two countries and "at no time intended to ask Algiers or Niamey for clarifications on their bilateral engagement". He reaffirmed the EU's commitment to good relations with Algeria and Niger based on respectful dialogue at all levels.
Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine had summoned the charge d'affaires of the EU delegation in Niger to "demand clarifications" over remarks by an EU spokesperson on relations between Algeria and Niger that Niamey called "unacceptable and condescending", APS recalled.
On 8 November, APS quoted "authorised sources" as saying the Algerian authorities had received no request for clarification from the EU over the deployment of units of the People's National Army in Niger.
