Week’s main trends
Algeria’s constitutional and legal adjustments, combined with diplomatic frictions, will influence investor sentiment and cross-border operations. The reintroduction of presidential term limits and recognition of Tamazight as an official language were enacted this week, while France-Algeria relations remain strained. Uncertainty over the Sahel’s security situation persists, with Algeria still a key actor. Education policy shifted toward English at universities, a decision that may affect hiring and training costs for firms using French-speaking staff.
Government: Legal changes and ethnic policy
Justice authorities also announced a mass retrial for 47 defendants accused of involvement in 2021 violence in Tizi Ouzou province, a Kabylie stronghold. Amnesty International reiterated warnings on 12 April against the use of the death penalty and forcible confessions. The retrial opened in Algiers on 13 April before an appeals chamber; no execution date has been set.
Foreign policy: France and Morocco channels
Meanwhile, Algeria restored full diplomatic ties with France on 10 April, following months of reduced cooperation. No economic agreements were announced, but the move may ease negotiations on energy-related payments and visa facilitation.
On the Morocco front, Algeria upgraded consular services for Moroccan nationals on 13 April, reflecting a partial détente after a period of border closures. However, intelligence operations against alleged Moroccan-linked migrant smuggling networks continue. On 11 April, the Algerian army reported the arrest of 18 Moroccan citizens in Tlemcen province for alleged human trafficking. Nine other arrests were made in Oran province on the same charges.
Education: English replaces French at universities
French-language programs at the University of Algiers and Oran University will continue for first-year students until 2026, with gradual phasing out. English proficiency levels among faculty remain uneven; temporary hiring of bilingual lecturers is under review. The policy may increase translation and training costs for employers recruiting graduates in technical sectors.
Tourism: Culture and infrastructure
Separately, the government began restoration work at Timgad, a UNESCO-listed Roman city 350 km south-east of Algiers. The €12 million project, funded by the Ministry of Culture, targets the Arch of Trajan and the theatre. The site drew 45,000 foreign visitors in 2023, up 12% from 2022.
Climate risk remains a concern. A 13 April report by the Algerian National Centre for Space Studies projected that rising Mediterranean sea levels could submerge parts of Annaba, Skikda and Oran by 2050, affecting coastal tourism infrastructure.
Justice: Retrials and deportations
On 14 April, Algeria forced the repatriation of a Tunisian asylum seeker, a political dissident, to Tunisia despite UNHCR warnings. The case is under review by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Army and security: Counter-smuggling operations
Border patrols in the south increased following reports of increased Sahel-based militant activity near the Libyan border. Algeria’s border forces conducted joint patrols with Nigerien counterparts on 12 April near the Tinzaouatine crossing.
Agriculture and irrigation: Regional expertise
Key takeaway for entrepreneurs
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