ALGIERS, Algeria / ISTANBUL

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Monday announced the launch of a trans-Saharan gas pipeline across Niger, as tensions between the two neighbors began to thaw.

“We agreed to launch the project to complete the trans-Saharan gas pipeline through Nigerien territory after the holy month of Ramadan,” Tebboune told a joint press conference in Algiers with his Nigerien counterpart, Abdourahamane Tchiani, as cited by the state news agency APS.

The state energy company Sonatrach “will take the lead and will begin laying the pipeline that passes through Niger," he added.

Tchiani arrived in the Algerian capital on Sunday for talks with Tebboune, in a move seen as signaling an end to more than 10 months of diplomatic tension between the two countries.

"With this visit, we are ending an abnormal period characterized by coldness between the two countries, even though the two brotherly peoples continued to communicate with each other," Tebboune said.

He said the two sides agreed to enhance collaboration in security, energy, university and vocational training, and military education.

"We will preserve the friendship that has united us with Niger for generations," the Algerian leader said.

On Thursday, Algeria announced the immediate return of Ahmed Saadi, its ambassador to Niger, after a reciprocal downgrade of diplomatic ties since last April. The move followed the resumption of duties by Niger’s ambassador to Algeria, Aminou Malam Manzo.

The diplomatic rift began last April, when Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, members of the Alliance of Sahel States, recalled their ambassadors from Algeria after Mali accused Algiers of shooting down one of its drones.

Algeria said at the time that the aircraft had violated its airspace on an offensive trajectory, marking the third such breach.

Algeria responded by recalling its ambassadors from the three countries under the principle of reciprocity. It later said Niger’s decision stemmed from solidarity within the Sahel alliance rather than a bilateral dispute.

Ties began to thaw late last year. In November, the Nigerien president sent Tebboune a message marking Algeria’s Revolution Day. In January, Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab visited Niger to review joint oil projects, the first senior-level Algerian visit since the diplomatic downgrade.

Algeria and Niger share nearly 950 kilometers (590 miles) of border and cooperate on major regional projects, including the Trans-Saharan Highway.