By Katarina Höije Niger received its first fuel shipment from Algeria, with 53 trucks escorted by troops from both countries arriving in the northern city of Agadez, as the two African neighbors deepen energy and security ties.

The convoy, carrying about 1.65 million liters of petroleum products, arrived over the weekend, Niger’s state broadcaster RTN reported.

Algerian troops accompanied the shipment days after the country’s parliament approved the deployment of military units to Niger, a move that could mark Algeria’s first overseas military deployment in more than five decades. Lawmakers authorized the deployment on Oct. 25 following a military cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Niger’s authorities responsible for approving such a deployment have yet to meet to consider the matter, according to the office of Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine. The Algerian soldiers in Agadez were there solely to secure the fuel convoy, the office said. The delivery will help ease fuel shortages that have disrupted transportation and businesses and forced motorists to queue at filling stations, Petroleum Minister Hamadou Tini said in the broadcast. Niger is seeking to diversify its supply sources, deepen ties with partners including Algeria and improve monitoring of fuel stocks and distribution, he said.

The shipment follows agreements signed in June between Niger’s state-owned Sonidep and Algeria’s Sonatrach to expand cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector. The accords allow Niger to buy petroleum products from Sonatrach at prices below international market levels. Earlier deliveries included jet fuel.

Sonatrach is also involved in the proposed Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project, which would carry Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria.