Sahel crossing from Algeria: what is behind the first military deployment in half a century? This time, the Algerian army is preparing to deploy in Niger, where France and the US have ended their military presence. The Algerian parliament has approved the country's first overseas military deployment since 1973. The official reason is to protect energy investments. The decision should be read together with the decline of the Western powers in the Sahel, the increasing role of Russia and the new security campaign of the countries of the region. News: Can Kuyumcuoğlu.