🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Abdelmadjid Tebboune addresses journalist case, bilateral ties, and medical project during Germany visit
via Algérie3603 min read
During an official visit to Germany, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held a joint press conference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz on July 16. Tebboune began by honoring the victims of a fire at an orphanage in Mohammadia, Algeria. Regarding the case of French journalist Christophe Gleizes, sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria for "apology of terrorism," Tebboune declined to comment outside Algeria, citing respect for Algerian justice. He emphasized the sovereignty of the national judicial institution, despite calls for a presidential pardon from French entities like Reporters Without Borders. Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 in Tizi-Ouzou and convicted in June 2025, with the sentence upheld on appeal in December of the same year. Tebboune described Algeria's relationship with Germany since 1962 as strong and healthy, without conflict, and improving. He highlighted the political, economic, and consultative level between the two countries. Among the concrete announcements, Tebboune confirmed the recent groundbreaking for a gene cell treatment institute in Rahmania, aiming to leverage Germany's expertise in this advanced medical field. This initiative is part of a broader transfer of skills, extending beyond the energy sector. Discussions during the visit also covered green hydrogen through the SoutH2 megaproject, with the first delivery of Algerian LNG to Germany having occurred in early July, as well as industrial partnerships in the automotive and pharmaceutical secto
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A study published on July 9, 2026, by the Observatory of Immigration and Demography OID, utilizing 2022 INSEE census micro-data, reveals significant disparities in economic integration among different nationalities in France. The study focuses on individuals over 15 years old, excluding students and retirees, to fairly assess professional integration. Algerians are among the nationalities with the lowest employment rates, ranking sixth with 54.4%. They are slightly ahead of Turks 53.1%, Russians 52.6%, Pakistanis 51.8%, Haitians 51.5%, and Comorians 50.8%. Other nationalities with low employment rates include Serbs 56.9%, Moroccans 57.5%, Guineans 57.7%, and Tunisians 60.2%. In contrast, Portuguese natives show the highest integration with an 81.7% employment rate, followed by native-born French citizens at 79.6%. This top tier is largely dominated by Western European countries, including Switzerland 78.7%, Germany 77.6%, and the United Kingdom 76.5%, with Canada 75.5% and Lebanon 73.1% also featuring. The OID study indicates that employment disparities for foreign-born individuals persist throughout their lives. For those aged 25-54, the employment rate gap between North African natives 60-65% and native-born French citizens 85% doubles to 21 points. Gender disparities also play a role, with a 27-point employment rate gap between North African men and women at age 40, and a 40-point gap between native-born French women and Turkish-born women. Naturalization significantly imp
Construction has officially begun on the Skikda seawater desalination plant in the coastal commune of Ben M'Hidi. The plant, expected to be operational within two years, is a strategic initiative to improve water security in the region. The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Nour Eddine Daoudi, CEO of Sonatrach, and Saïd Akhrouf, the Wali of Skikda. The event was attended by leaders from Sonatrach's external and support activities holding SAES, the Algerian Desalination Company ADC, and the National Pipeline Company Enac, along with public group executives and local authorities. The plant is designed to produce 140,000 cubic meters of water daily. Of this, 100,000 cubic meters per day will be allocated to the Skikda industrial zone to support local production, while the remaining 40,000 cubic meters daily will supply Algérienne des Eaux ADE to strengthen the public network and secure household consumption in the region. Sonatrach stated that construction will not exceed 24 months and will adhere to strict engineering and technical standards. The project's overall management has been assigned to Sonatrach's subsidiary ADC, with operational deployment entrusted to Enac. This investment aligns with the state's roadmap, reflecting Sonatrach's commitment to national interest projects, sustainable development, and strengthening the country's water sovereignty.
Must ReadAlgerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met at Villa Borsig in Berlin to advance Algerian-German relations from a traditional commercial partnership to strategic industrial and energy co-development. The visit included discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aiming to provide a strong political impetus to the partnership. Beyond traditional gas supplies, the two nations are focusing on energy security and green hydrogen, exemplified by the "SoutH2" megaproject, an export corridor for green hydrogen from the Algerian Sahara to Germany. Algeria made its first liquefied natural gas delivery to Germany on July 2. Domestically, the "TaqatHy+" program, supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation GIZ, aims to improve energy efficiency in Algerian buildings by 2035. The visit also emphasizes technology transfer and local production, moving beyond simple import logic. Examples include an agreement between Saïdal and Boehringer Ingelheim for local pharmaceutical production and efforts to establish a local automotive subcontracting ecosystem. Over 50 German companies are established in Algeria, with around 30 new bilateral agreements in progress. GIZ Director Elke Foerster highlighted the deepening partnership, focusing on energy efficiency and climate, employability and vocational training, and innovation and digital entrepreneurship in Algeria. Projects include equipping public buildings with solar panels through