Algeria’s royal mausoleums move closer to UNESCO recognition Copy link

Algeria Gate: Algeria has taken another significant step towards diversifying its exports, as steel manufacturer Tosyali Algeria announced the shipment of 40,000 tonnes of iron and steel products to European markets. The operation, marking National Export Day, highlights the country’s growing ambitions to strengthen its industrial presence internationally and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbon revenues.

The shipments departed from the Port of Arzew in the western province of Oran, with Poland and Italy serving as the two European destinations.

Two major shipments strengthen Algeria’s European trade

The export operation consists of two separate shipments, each carrying 20,000 tonnes of steel products destined for European industrial markets.

The first shipment, bound for Poland, comprises 20,000 tonnes of hot-rolled steel coils (HRC), a widely used industrial material essential to automotive manufacturing, construction, machinery production and various engineering applications.

The second shipment, destined for Italy, consists of 20,000 tonnes of steel slabs, semi-finished products used in the manufacture of steel sheets, plates and other industrial components.

Together, the shipments represent 40,000 tonnes of Algerian steel entering European markets, illustrating the expanding commercial reach of the country’s metallurgical industry.

The operation also underscores the strategic importance of the Port of Arzew as a maritime gateway connecting Algeria’s industrial production facilities with international markets.

Tosyali Algeria strengthens its industrial ambitions

Located in Bethioua, in the province of Oran, Tosyali Algeria has emerged as a major player in the country’s iron and steel industry.

The industrial complex forms part of Algeria’s broader efforts to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities, increase the added value of locally produced goods and strengthen the competitiveness of Algerian products abroad.

By exporting hot-rolled coils and steel slabs, the company demonstrates its ability to supply products used in international manufacturing and industrial supply chains.

The latest operation also reflects the importance of industrial investment, modern production infrastructure and international commercial partnerships in supporting Algeria’s economic transformation.

European markets represent an important opportunity for Algerian steel manufacturers, particularly given their established industrial sectors and demand for steel products.

A strategic boost for non-hydrocarbon exports

The shipment comes as Algeria continues to pursue a national strategy aimed at diversifying its economy and increasing exports beyond oil and natural gas.

For decades, hydrocarbons have dominated the country’s export earnings. However, expanding sectors such as steel manufacturing, fertilizers, cement, agricultural products and other industrial goods is central to efforts to establish a more diversified economic model.

Tosyali Algeria’s latest shipments illustrate how industrial production can contribute to that transition by generating export opportunities and strengthening commercial links with international partners.

The export of 40,000 tonnes of steel products to Poland and Italy also demonstrates the potential of Algeria’s manufacturing sector to participate more actively in European supply chains.

Nevertheless, maintaining competitiveness in these markets will require sustained attention to production efficiency, logistics, product quality and evolving European environmental requirements.

Algeria expands its footprint in global steel markets

Beyond the immediate commercial significance of the shipments, the operation reflects Algeria’s ambition to establish itself as a competitive industrial exporter in the Mediterranean region and beyond.

Its geographic proximity to Europe, access to Mediterranean shipping routes and expanding industrial infrastructure provide potential advantages for companies seeking to develop international markets.

By combining industrial investment with export-oriented production, Algeria aims to transform its manufacturing sector into a stronger contributor to national economic growth.

Tosyali Algeria has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting non-hydrocarbon exports, positioning the steel industry as an important component of the country’s wider economic diversification strategy.

The latest shipments to Poland and Italy represent another concrete example of Algerian industrial products reaching European markets, reinforcing the country’s efforts to build a more diversified and internationally connected economy.

Algeria Gate: Algerian culture is taking centre stage in Africa, showcasing a deeply rooted civilisation and artistic creativity that reflect the richness and diversity of the country’s identity. Algeria is participating in CANEX WKND 2026, the African cultural and creative industries exhibition taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, from 5 to 8 November.

The participation forms part of efforts by the culture and arts sector to promote Algeria’s national heritage and highlight its cultural and creative resources. The Algerian pavilion attracted visitors and participating delegations with artistic and craft displays illustrating the distinctive character of Algerian heritage and its diverse forms of expression.

The pavilion featured Algerian zellige tilework and ceramics, alongside traditional handicrafts reflecting artisans’ expertise and skills passed down through generations. A photographic exhibition also showcased historic landmarks and sites recognised at national and international levels, highlighting Algeria’s civilisational heritage and rich historical memory.

From traditional crafts to artistic performances

Algeria’s presence extended beyond displays of tangible heritage to the event’s artistic and creative activities, including participation in the Music Lab.

The Algiers Opera Ballet company also performed traditional dances, introducing African audiences to the diversity of dance and movement rooted in Algerian culture.

This participation offers an opportunity to showcase Algeria’s cultural diversity through its arts, crafts and artistic traditions. It also demonstrates how popular heritage continues to thrive within contemporary creative spaces, as an integral part of national identity and a source of artistic inspiration.

Algerian culture beyond borders

Participation in CANEX WKND 2026 carries particular significance as the event brings together professionals from Africa’s cultural and creative industries, creating opportunities for artistic exchange and cooperation across the continent.

Through its presence, Algeria reaffirms its commitment to celebrating its heritage and presenting its creative work to African and international audiences. This strengthens the place of Algerian culture on the continental stage, while making cultural and artistic industries a bridge between peoples and highlighting the distinctive traditions that enrich Africa’s shared identity.

Algeria gate: When it comes to demanding explanations, Brussels appears to have a remarkably selective memory.
The European Union has recently expressed its desire for further clarification regarding Algeria’s decision to authorise the deployment of military forces in Niger, with EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stating that Brussels was closely monitoring the situation and seeking details about the mission’s scope, objectives and legal basis.

Fair enough. Transparency and international law are legitimate concerns. But one cannot help wondering: where was this same level of scrutiny when France was conducting its military operations across the Sahel?
For nearly a decade, France led major military operations in Mali under Operation Serval and subsequently Operation Barkhane, extending its military presence across several Sahelian countries, including Niger. Yet, despite considerable military resources and billions of euros spent, the security situation deteriorated, armed groups expanded their reach, civilian casualties mounted, and millions were displaced.

A 2024 analysis by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) described France’s intervention in Mali as a strategic failure, arguing that its military approach had, in several respects, worsened the conflict rather than bringing about a lasting political solution.
France eventually withdrew its forces from Mali in 2022 and Niger in 2023, leaving behind a region still struggling with profound security challenges.

Apparently, the European appetite for demanding explanations was not quite as visible when the consequences of its closest ally’s military strategy were unfolding.

And what about Brussels itself?

While European officials find time to question Algeria’s security decisions, the European Union is hardly short of internal matters requiring serious attention. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that, by the end of 2025, it was investigating 3,602 active cases involving estimated damage of €67.27 billion to EU and national budgets, including extensive VAT, customs and subsidy fraud.

The Qatargate scandal, meanwhile, exposed serious allegations of corruption involving individuals connected to the European Parliament, raising uncomfortable questions about integrity and accountability within European political institutions.
Perhaps Brussels should occasionally turn its demanding questions inward.

Algeria’s sovereignty is not a matter for political convenience. Its security decisions, particularly those taken in cooperation with neighbouring countries, deserve to be assessed on their actual legal and regional context, not through a lens of suspicion simply because they originate from Algiers.

The point is not that Algeria should be exempt from legitimate questions. Rather, the same standards should apply to everyone, including France and the European institutions themselves.
After all, if Brussels is so concerned about stability, transparency and international law in the Sahel, it should also be willing to examine the consequences of the policies that helped shape the region’s current reality.

One final question remains: Is the European Union genuinely concerned about security in the Sahel, or is it simply more comfortable questioning Algeria than confronting the failures of its own allies?