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AYRADE to list on the Algiers Stock Exchange: Interview with founder Mohamed Lamine Belbachir
via Algérie3608 min read
AYRADE, an Algerian sovereign cloud operator, is set to list 20% of its capital on the Algiers Stock Exchange between June 1 and June 30, 2026. Founded 17 years ago by Mohamed Lamine Belbachir, the company aims to provide local digital infrastructure, reducing Algeria's reliance on foreign cloud providers. AYRADE has grown significantly, with its revenue more than doubling in one year, 3,700 active cloud clients, and two operational data centers in Algeria. The company projects a 9.45% return on its business plan horizon. Mohamed Lamine Belbachir, founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, emphasized that AYRADE's strategic ambition is built on three pillars: local data hosting for regulated operators and administrations, local control of critical infrastructure as an alternative to foreign actors, and fostering an ecosystem of Algerian expertise in cloud, AI, and sovereign cybersecurity. AYRADE covers the entire digital services value chain, including sovereign cloud and hosting, data centers, sovereign cybersecurity with its Security Operations Center SOC and proprietary product ASA, and research and innovation, including AI integration in cyber detection. The company has over 10,000 clients, with 3,700 active in the cloud segment, focusing on sectors with critical data such as banking, insurance, telecommunications, energy, and public administration. AYRADE's revenue increased from 192 million dinars in 2024 to 416 million in 2025, a 117% growth. The company projects revenue
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Ségolène Royal, president of the Franco-Algerian Friendship Association and a French political figure, has strongly criticized France's foreign policy towards Algeria. In a post on X, the former minister described Paris's approach as "catastrophic diplomacy," stating that France is progressively losing its economic and strategic positions to other European powers. Royal highlighted the dynamic economic relations between Algeria and several European capitals, citing major contracts in energy and public works with Italy, and the signing of around thirty agreements during an Algerian visit to Germany, covering strategic areas like green hydrogen and the automotive industry. She also mentioned the anticipated visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Algiers for new bilateral projects. According to Royal, France is being "replaced" on the continent, having lost influence in the Sahel and Francophone Africa, and now seeing its businesses decline in Algeria. She noted a clear weakening of industrial, agricultural, construction, and port management partnerships for French entities, while competing European companies expand their activities. Royal deplored that internal political controversies in France regarding Algeria obscure "strategic realities." She called for overcoming these divisions to rebuild a balanced relationship with countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, advocating for diplomacy based on mutual respect and shared interests. Looking ahead to the 2
Must ReadThe Trump administration is exploring a proposal to require a $100,000 bond from foreign nationals applying for a Green Card through U.S. consulates. This sum would only be reimbursed after obtaining U.S. citizenship, a process that takes a minimum of five years. The measure is primarily expected to affect families of U.S. citizens, including spouses, parents, and siblings. The State Department confirmed it is examining this option, though without a specific timeline. The proposed bond aims to ensure financial self-sufficiency among immigrants, with the amount potentially varying. A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, stated that President Trump has made it clear that those wishing to immigrate to the U.S. must be financially autonomous. The administration plans to pilot the program in a limited number of countries before wider implementation. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, criticized the proposal, suggesting its true purpose is to exclude certain immigrants and create a "pay-to-play" system where only the wealthy can afford to immigrate.
Must ReadStatements by the French Ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet, suggesting a return to 250,000 annual visas for Algerian nationals have sparked controversy in France. Right-wing and far-right politicians, including Bruno Retailleau, have criticized the idea, with Retailleau linking visa issuance to the release of journalist Christophe Gleizes. The Quai d'Orsay, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has since denied any specific numerical targets for visa issuance, stating that while relations with Algiers are being re-engaged, they are guided solely by France's interests. The ministry clarified that the visa issue is not central to current discussions and no numerical objective has been validated. Before a diplomatic crisis, France issued approximately 250,000 visas annually to Algerians, a number that significantly decreased during the two-year period of strained relations. Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe, reiterated that there is no numerical objective, quota, or trajectory being discussed regarding visas. He emphasized that French diplomacy prioritizes France's interests, including migration, security, combating drug trafficking, and the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French journalist imprisoned in Algeria. Haddad stated that any progress in relations would be conditional on concrete results, and the visa issue would be addressed later in a pragmatic and reversible manner.