🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Algerian student enrollment in Russia increases tenfold over a decade
via Algérie3603 min read
The number of Algerian students in Russian universities has significantly increased, reaching 2,194 enrolled in Russian higher education by June 2026. This represents a tenfold increase over the past decade, as only 200 to 220 Algerian students were enrolled ten years prior. This growth has accelerated in the last three years, driven by stronger academic ties between Algiers and Moscow. A key factor in this trend is a bilateral agreement signed on January 30, 2025, in Algiers, between Kamel Baddari, Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Konstantin Mogilevski, Russian Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education. This agreement ensures the mutual recognition of university degrees and qualifications, removing a major obstacle for Algerian graduates seeking professional integration in Algeria. Russia also offers approximately 100 state scholarships annually to Algerian students, primarily for advanced degrees like doctorates. These scholarships cover tuition, university housing, and a year of Russian language training. While medical studies remain popular, there's a growing interest in technological fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and autonomous systems programming. Algerian students are primarily distributed across institutions like the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship RUDN in Moscow, Tambov State University, and Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Algérie360.
Sonelgaz International, the international subsidiary of the Algerian group Sonelgaz, is expanding its presence across the African continent with several electricity production and transmission projects. The company aims to strengthen its footprint and export its expertise in the energy sector, with projects spanning Tunisia, Mozambique, Niger, Chad, and Côte d'Ivoire. Yazid Djelouli, President and CEO of Sonelgaz International, stated that current projects involve production capacities ranging from 40 to 1,000 megawatts. In Chad, Sonelgaz is involved in operating a solar power plant with a 25-megawatt capacity, though only 12 megawatts are currently fed into the grid due to transmission infrastructure limitations. Studies are underway to modernize Chad's electrical network to utilize the plant's full capacity. In Niger, Sonelgaz has completed a 40-megawatt power plant, which accounts for nearly 20% of the country's national electricity production. Tunisia is also a strategic partner, with Algeria currently exporting approximately 600 megawatts of electricity via a 400-kilovolt transmission line. Discussions are ongoing for an independent power producer IPP project in Tunisia, potentially reaching 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts. Sonelgaz's African strategy extends to Côte d'Ivoire, where it is preparing several power plant projects with capacities between 700 and 1,000 megawatts. Other projects are being developed or studied in Mozambique, Chad, and Niger. Beyond infrastructure cons
Must ReadAlgeria, once a demographic outlier in North Africa, is now experiencing a significant and sustained decline in its birth rate, according to a recent report from the National Institute of Demographic Studies INED. This trend brings Algeria in line with Morocco and Tunisia, which have seen consistent drops in fertility. While Tunisia reached the generational replacement threshold by the end of the last century and Morocco shows a steady decline, Algeria had a resurgence in birth rates during the 2000s and 2010s, driven by increased marriages linked to housing and employment access. However, this surge has ended. Currently, Rabat records 1.97 children per woman, Tunis is at 1.53, and Algiers, though slightly higher, has seen a continuous drop in fertility since 2017. This decline reflects deep societal changes, including women's prolonged access to higher education, delayed entry into the job market, and a rising age for marriage. Despite higher education levels for women, their professional integration is not sustained, with many facing domestic constraints after age 30, leading to inactivity. Only a quarter of Algerian women aged 40 to 44 are employed. This highlights institutional challenges in balancing family life and professional aspirations. The impending challenge for Algeria is an aging population. While Tunisia 17% seniors and Morocco 13.8% are ahead, Algeria 10.5% faces an inevitable acceleration. Public policies, traditionally focused on a large youth population, mu
Must ReadThéniet El Had National Park, located in the Tissemsilt wilaya of Algeria, has been officially classified as a biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere MAB program. This recognition places the park among 13 other newly recognized natural sites globally, acknowledging its rich ecological value. The director of the park announced the official classification, highlighting the site's exceptional ecological value, rich biodiversity, and preserved forest landscapes. This designation is seen as a consecration of the site's environmental importance and underscores ongoing efforts in its protection and sustainable management. Beyond symbolic distinction, this international recognition opens new avenues for the park's management, including strengthening protection policies and valuing natural heritage for local populations. The park will now play an even more significant role in biodiversity preservation and environmental education. This UNESCO labeling is also expected to promote responsible ecological tourism in the region. Local authorities and park managers hope this recognition will boost conservation efforts and raise awareness about the importance of Algeria's natural heritage, marking a significant step for Algeria in environmental protection and positioning Théniet El Had Park as a strategic site in global biodiversity preservation efforts, while fostering more sustainable and regulated development.