Algeria Eyes Pivotal Role in African Energy Trade and Continental Integration Copy link

Algeria has been elected Vice-President of the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, taking place from April 27 to May 22, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, thereby reaffirming its status as a committed and recognized actor in the multilateral nuclear disarmament process.

This new election to the position of Vice-President of the Conference, which Algeria has previously chaired on two occasions, is evidence of its important role in strengthening and promoting the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.During the general debate, Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ammar Benjama, took the initiative to reveal a “painful chapter” in global nuclear history.He noted in this regard that Algerian soil was the site of seventeen nuclear tests conducted by France in the 1960s, with the radioactive fallout from the first test reaching more than three thousand kilometers in all directions.He added that “the effects of those tests remain an open wound that has not healed for the Algerian population affected: from diseases and birth defects to barren, arid lands, as the International Atomic Energy Agency itself has recorded high levels of persistent radiation in those areas.”Faced with this reality, Ambassador Ben Jamaa posed three questions that remain unanswered to this day: “Why has France not yet provided Algeria with maps detailing the exact locations of the nuclear test sites, which would allow for the identification of buried waste? What obstacles continue to prevent the disclosure of the historical archives, radiation data, and medical files necessary for environmental decontamination and the protection of public health? Can such obstacles override the fundamental principles and essential rights of the affected populations?”In this regard, Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations also questioned France’s policy of double standards, noting that “continues to reject the concrete and constructive proposals put forward by Algeria for the rehabilitation of contaminated sites and shirks all responsibility,” while it “has dismantled its technical facilities and made efforts to decontaminate French Polynesia.”He asked in this regard, “How can these double standards be justified?

”Ambassador Ammar Benjama noted on this occasion that by acceding to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Algeria has chosen the path of multilateralism and renounced the nuclear option while committing to the obligations arising from the treaty.

He added that this international mechanism is based on a mutual and balanced commitment, namely that “countries without nuclear weapons have renounced the nuclear option, while countries possessing nuclear weapons have committed to dismantling their arsenals.

”Mr. Ben Jemaa called on conference participants to be frank, stressing that “one party has fulfilled its obligations, while the other, regarding disarmament, has yet to do so.

”He concluded by emphasizing that “the failure of two consecutive review conferences has placed the credibility of this very system at a crossroads,” calling on the international community to “unite its efforts to restore the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and work toward a world free of nuclear weapons.”

A senior delegation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is currently in Algeria on an official visit running from April 27 to May 1. The mission is intended to deepen cooperation between Algeria and the Fund on climate-related initiatives and to support the achievement of sustainable development goals, the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life said in a statement.

During this visit, the program of the Environment and Quality of Life sector will be presented, highlighting strategic projects under its supervision across various fields, most notably climate change and biodiversity. Discussions will also cover international cooperation prospects and the enhancement of the country’s capacities to develop sustainable environmental projects with tangible impact, according to the same source.

In this context, the delegation will conduct a field visit to inspect the rehabilitation works of the Green Dam, considered one of the strategic environmental projects within the efforts to combat desertification and adapt to climate change.

The statement further noted that the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life, in its capacity as the National Focal Point for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), plays a central role in enhancing support and providing strategic guidance within international climate finance frameworks, as well as in advancing initiatives geared toward sustainable and inclusive development.
Source: Algerian Radio

ALGIERS – The President of the Council of the Nation, Mr. Azzouz Nasseri, received on Wednesday in Algiers the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Algeria, Mr. Ramiro Fernández-Bachiller, on a courtesy visit, according to a statement from the Council.

During the meeting, Mr. Nasseri praised the “depth of historical and geographical bonds” connecting Algeria and Spain, highlighting the current positive momentum in bilateral relations.

In this context, Mr. Nasseri referenced the decision by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to reactivate the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation (signed in October 2002). He noted that this move reflects a shared political will to consolidate ties and strengthen a multidimensional partnership founded on mutual respect, trust, and a balance of interests.

Mr. Nasseri emphasized Algeria’s commitment to building balanced and productive partnerships. He pointed out that Algerian-Spanish relations are well-positioned for expansion across political, economic, cultural, and parliamentary domains. He called for:

Translating political will into practical cooperation.

Strengthening productive investment and technology transfer.

Enhancing industrial partnerships, particularly in the energy sector.

Spain’s Perspective: Algeria as a Pivotal Mediterranean Partner
For his part, the Spanish Ambassador expressed his country’s appreciation for Algeria, praising its pivotal role in the Mediterranean and its status as a key strategic partner. He reaffirmed Spain’s keenness to bolster economic and trade cooperation, specifically in priority areas such as:

Education and Vocational Training.

Energy and Renewable Energies.

Industry and Technology.

On the legislative front, both sides stressed the importance of:

Reactivating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Algerian Council of the Nation and the Spanish Senate in September 2015.

Activating the Parliamentary Friendship Group to intensify coordination between the two institutions.

Conclusion:
The two parties concluded the meeting by reaffirming the necessity of continued consultation to serve the aspirations of both nations, safeguard regional security, and support development and integration in the Mediterranean space.