An attack in a locality in Niger’s Dosso region on Tuesday night has caused concerns over the security of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline which straddles several countries.
The incident took place in the locality of Dankassari, targeted an oil pipeline in southwestern Niger, highlighting the rising tide of sabotage in the Sahel.
This incident—the tenth this year—not only disrupts Niger’s energy supply but also jeopardises the ambitious Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project linking Nigeria to Algeria.
Since the 1970s, Algiers has championed this mega-project, designed to transport Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to Europe via Niger and Algeria. However, persistent insecurity in the Sahel—driven by jihadist groups affiliated with the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda—has left already vulnerable infrastructure exposed, casting growing doubt on the pipeline’s feasibility.
Amid this instability, the alternative Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline, backed by Morocco, is gaining traction.
Running along the Atlantic coast through politically stabler countries, this pipeline is emerging as a less risky option for channeling Nigerian gas to Europe. Several international partners have already okayed key stages of this project, in stark contrast to the trans-Saharan route’s stalled progress.
While Algeria envisioned the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline as a means to bolster its standing in the European gas market, recent incidents in the Sahel underscore the harsh security realities undermining this ambition.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s project is steadily positioning itself as the more viable option for securing Africa’s energy future.
MK/ac/lb/as/APA