🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expected in Algiers in July
via Algérie3602 min read
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to make an official visit to Algeria on July 20, according to Spanish media outlet The Objective, citing diplomatic sources. Sánchez will reportedly travel to Algiers and back on the same day, accompanied by two government members, including the third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen. He is expected to be received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This would mark Sánchez's first official visit to Algeria in nearly six years, with his last trip occurring in October 2020, prior to a diplomatic crisis between the two nations. His wife is not expected to accompany him. The visit is part of a busy diplomatic agenda for Sánchez in July, which includes attending the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8 and French National Day celebrations in Paris on July 14. The Objective highlights that this visit comes as the Spanish Parliament reviews a bill to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before August 11, 1977, even if they do not legally reside in Spain. The bill, recently approved by the Congress's Justice Committee after over a year, could be put to a plenary vote before the end of July. Commercial relations between Spain and Algeria began to normalize in 2024 after a 28-month diplomatic crisis. Spanish exports to Algeria decreased significantly during this period, from 1.888 billion euros in 2021 to 1.017 billion in 2022, and then to 332 million euros in 2023. Spanish companies reportedly lost
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Must ReadAlgeria secured the top position at the 2026 Pan-African Mathematics Olympiads PAMO held in Côte d'Ivoire from June 26 to July 4. The Algerian delegation not only led the team rankings but also saw Alaa Yahia crowned "African Queen of Mathematics." The country's educational system was celebrated as young mathematicians brought home an impressive total of nine medals, including several top distinctions. Kian Abolghasemi and Abderrahmane Si Ahmed achieved perfect scores, earning gold medals, as did Mohamed Ikbal Tebib. Alaa Yahia's exceptional performance included a gold in the general tournament and the top spot in the women's category. Fairouz Benyounes won silver in the general competition and gold among girls, while Layane Harnane secured two silver medals. The Minister of National Education, Mohammed Seghir Sadaoui, congratulated the winners, calling their achievement a "historic exploit" and highlighting it as proof of the quality of Algerian public education and its ability to produce international scientific talent.
Kazakhstan plans to export live sheep to Algeria starting in 2027, as announced by Kazakh Ambassador Anuarbek Akhmetov. This initiative marks a diversification of the relationship between Algiers and Astana, which has historically been strong in grain trade. In 2025, Kazakhstan supplied nearly 350,000 tons of wheat to Algeria, valued at $93 million. Building on this success, both countries aim to expand cooperation into livestock, agricultural technologies, and tourism. The sheep exports are intended to help meet Algeria's high demand for ovine meat, which currently faces high prices. Kazakhstan possesses a large national flock of over 21 million sheep. The project also includes industrial investments in the halal sector, focusing on developing and certifying products that meet religious standards. Beyond livestock trade, the partnership involves technology transfer to modernize Algerian agriculture. Kazakhstan plans to share expertise in improving crop varieties, particularly in developing climate-resilient seeds, and introduce new agricultural technologies and industrial processing methods. These efforts aim to enhance Algeria's food sovereignty, as the country currently covers about 80% of its food needs but seeks self-sufficiency in strategic sectors. Ambassador Akhmetov also highlighted potential cooperation in transportation, logistics, digital transition, and tourism, emphasizing a broader partnership built on mutual trust and respect.
Must ReadAlgeria's dairy imports saw a significant decrease in the first four months of 2026, with total spending on these supplies reaching approximately $398 million, a 13% year-on-year reduction. This decline was particularly pronounced in skimmed milk powder, which fell by 49% in imported volumes, and processed products like cheeses, which dropped by 53%. In contrast, whole milk powder imports increased by 8% during the same period, now accounting for nearly half of the country's total dairy expenditure. Uruguay remains Algeria's primary partner for whole milk powder, holding 42% of the market share by volume, followed by New Zealand 34% and Argentina 22%. Across all dairy products, the European Union leads as a supplier with 37%, followed by Uruguay 25%, New Zealand 19%, and Argentina 13%. For Uruguay's dairy industry, Algerian demand for whole milk powder is crucial, contributing $249 million to its exports, a 6% increase, and representing 80% of its international volumes. This targeted reduction in imports aligns with Algeria's strategic goal of reducing its import bill and boosting local production. The integrated "Baladna" mega-project in Adrar is central to this strategy, aiming for an annual national production of 100,000 tons of milk powder to achieve self-sufficiency and create around 5,000 jobs, thereby reducing reliance on international markets.