“President of French “MEDEF”: Algeria is a Key Partner for France and Its Economy Copy link

Washington sharpens its focus on Algeria with high-level diplomatic visit The United States is intensifying its diplomatic engagement in North Africa, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau set to visit Algeria from April 27 to May 1, according to an official State Department statement.

In Algeria, discussions are expected to focus on two key pillars: security and economic cooperation. Landau will meet senior Algerian officials to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties, with particular attention to regional security challenges, especially in the Sahel, where instability continues to pose serious risks.

Economic issues will also be high on the agenda. Talks are expected to include potential major deals involving U.S. companies, reflecting Washington’s growing interest in expanding its economic footprint in Algeria beyond the energy sector.

The timing underscores a broader strategic context. North Africa is becoming an increasingly competitive arena, as global powers seek influence through investment, trade, and security partnerships. Algeria, given its geographic position and regional influence, is a key player in that dynamic.

Algeria is accelerating efforts to reshape its economy away from hydrocarbons, leaning on large-scale agriculture projects and international partnerships to strengthen food security and attract foreign investment.

At the center of this shift is a massive integrated dairy project in the southern region of Adrar. Developed in partnership with Qatari group Baladna and supported by European industrial technology provider GEA, the project aims to become one of the largest milk production complexes in the world. It is designed to significantly reduce Algeria’s dependence on milk imports by covering a large share of domestic demand for milk powder, while also creating thousands of jobs and boosting agro-industrial capacity.

Alongside this flagship project, Algeria is expanding its economic outreach across Africa. Cooperation initiatives with Chad reflect a broader strategy to deepen trade links within the continent, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure. The goal is to position Algeria as a regional hub connected to African supply chains rather than relying solely on European markets.

On the international front, economic ties with the United Kingdom have also gained momentum through recent business-focused meetings between Algerian and British institutions. Discussions have centered on investment opportunities, technology transfer, and the development of non-oil sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services.

Together, these moves signal a gradual but clear policy direction: Algeria is attempting to build a more diversified economic model based on food production, regional integration in Africa, and strategic partnerships with advanced economies. However, the long-term success of this transition will depend on whether these projects evolve into a coherent and sustainable industrial ecosystem rather than isolated initiatives

France once again steps in to shield one of its “mercenaries in disguise.” Culture Minister Catherine Béguar rushed to denounce what she called a threat to creative freedom after Algerian courts sentenced Franco‑Algerian writer Kamel Daoud to three years in prison. His novel Houriates — accused of being stolen material — was conveniently crowned with the Goncourt Prize in 2024.

Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot followed suit, lamenting the ruling and insisting it was “unacceptable to punish a writer for a literary work.” He added that Daoud, who resides in France, should not face prosecution. French media quickly joined the chorus, launching a campaign of sympathy and distortion to defend the man critics call a literary thief.

But Algerian lawyer Fatima Ben Braham reminded everyone that two lawsuits had already been filed against Daoud: one by the National Organization of Terrorism Victims, and another by survivor Saâda Arabane. Arabane accused Daoud and his wife of exploiting her trauma without consent. Her ordeal — surviving a near‑fatal attack in 1999 that left her unable to speak normally — is mirrored almost word‑for‑word in Daoud’s novel.

Ben Braham explained that the lawsuits were filed in Oran, where Daoud and his wife live, right after the book’s release — not after the Goncourt win. The charges include breach of medical confidentiality (as Daoud’s wife, a psychiatrist, allegedly handed over her patient’s file), defamation of terrorism victims, and violation of Algeria’s National Reconciliation Law, which forbids publishing material about the 1992–2002 security crisis.

Translated from the Arabic version of the Algeria Portal website