🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Sonatrach and Sonelgaz to rehabilitate Oran's historic Sidi El Houari district
via Algérie3603 min read
The rehabilitation project for Oran's historic Sidi El Houari district is entering its final phase, with the third and last part of the study currently under review. This progress follows a series of structural decisions, including the involvement of major public companies to revitalize the city's old heart. The Directorate of Culture and Arts of Oran recently hosted a meeting concerning the final stage of the permanent safeguarding plan for Sidi El Houari. This meeting included institutional stakeholders, such as representatives from the Wilaya People's Assembly and relevant directorates. The executive decree n°03-324 of October 5, 2003, frames the development of protection mechanisms for safeguarded areas, defining general planning rules, land use easements, properties prohibited from modification or demolition, and buildings requiring structural interventions. Notably, the municipality of Oran, despite being the project owner, was absent from this meeting. Classified as a safeguarded area since February 2015, Sidi El Houari's project faced delays, being frozen before its relaunch in 2021 with the appointment of the "Sehili Fayçal" design office. This office presented an initial phase along with an urgent work program estimated at nearly 80 billion centimes. In parallel with the overall plan, several buildings within the protected perimeter have been allocated to public companies for restoration. Decisions include the transfer of the former "Baudens" hospital to Sonatrach f
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Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the Algeria-Jordan World Cup 2026 match on June 23. This decision has drawn attention due to a past controversy involving Vincic. In 2020, he was present at a party in Bijeljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where police seized narcotics, weapons, and other materials. Vincic was questioned as a witness, not a suspect, and stated his presence was due to a professional invitation, calling it a "grave error" and expressing regret. The FIFA was aware of the incident but did not remove him from their lists, and he has since continued to officiate high-level international matches. This appointment comes as Algeria faces a critical second group match, with any contentious refereeing decision expected to be heavily scrutinized. The Algerian team is already under pressure following a controversial match against Argentina on June 17, where Polish referee Szymon Marciniak reportedly overlooked several fouls against Algerian players. The Algerian Football Federation filed an official complaint with the FIFA, which later acknowledged a judgment error by the VAR referees and issued sanctions. The selection of Vincic for the Algeria-Jordan match reignites debate about the FIFA's criteria for appointing referees in high-stakes games, especially when officials have past controversies. This discussion extends beyond Algeria, as several controversial refereeing decisions and the opaque functioning of the centralized VAR system in Dallas hav
Algeria is set to host a significant industrial development in the footwear sector with the establishment of Skechers' first African production facility. The Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion, Kamel Rezig, oversaw the signing of a partnership agreement between the American group Skechers and the Algerian company Tradifoot. The ceremony included Douglas Parker, Skechers' Vice President of Financial Affairs, and Djamel Ramoul, CEO of Tradifoot. This project positions Algeria as Skechers' inaugural industrial base on the African continent. The factory is projected to begin production in the first quarter of 2027, with an estimated capacity of two million pairs of shoes annually. The local integration rate is expected to reach 40%, aiming to reduce import dependency and build an industrial sector around the brand. Beyond manufacturing, the project includes training and skills transfer, with Skechers experts supporting the factory's launch and local workforce development to ensure international standards. The initiative also aims to establish Algeria as a regional industrial and export platform, with plans to export to African markets from the second year of operation. Kamel Rezig highlighted the national strategy to reduce imports through local production and foreign investment, viewing Skechers' choice of Algeria as a sign of growing investor confidence in the country's business environment and economic reforms.
The Romanian Embassy in Algeria, a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, will suspend its visa services indefinitely starting June 25, 2026. This means Algerian applicants for a Schengen visa to Romania will be unable to submit new applications. The diplomatic representation stated in a social media release that the temporary suspension is due to a "vacancy of the consul position." The embassy noted that this is not an unprecedented situation, as visa services have been temporarily closed in the past due to staff shortages. Romania joined the Schengen area on January 1, 2025, formalizing the lifting of border controls. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively seeking solutions to resolve the situation promptly. The embassy did not specify procedures for visa applications already submitted and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to applicants.