Algeria unveils new 220 km/h railway project linking three wilayas Copy link

Algeria Gate: Algeria and Saudi Arabia are continuing to strengthen their bilateral relations, with the aim of expanding economic cooperation and development opportunities. A diplomatic meeting was held in Riyadh on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, reflecting the two countries’ determination to consolidate their partnership.

Algerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Cherif Walid held talks with Abderrahmane Al-Rassi, a senior official at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for multilateral international affairs and overseeing economic and development issues.

The discussions focused on the state of bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation and several issues of mutual interest. The two officials also addressed regional and international developments.

Strengthening economic partnership

The meeting comes amid closer economic ties between Algiers and Riyadh, particularly in investment, energy and industrial development.

The two countries are seeking to explore new opportunities to diversify trade and encourage partnerships between their economic operators.

Algeria and Saudi Arabia therefore aim to consolidate their longstanding relations and open up new avenues for cooperation amid significant economic transformations across the region.

This diplomatic momentum could help strengthen exchanges and pave the way for future joint projects between the two countries.

Algeria Gate: Irish airline Ryanair has found itself at the centre of a controversy after presenting the city of Dakhla, located in Western Sahara, as a Moroccan destination. Ireland’s advertising regulator considers the marketing potentially misleading to travellers and recommends that it be withdrawn in its current form.

The case was reported by the Irish newspaper The Irish Times following a complaint filed by Lynn Boylan, an Irish Member of the European Parliament from the Sinn Féin party, who denounced what she described as a misleading representation of Dakhla’s territorial status.

An advertising campaign sparks controversy

In several promotional campaigns, Ryanair invited customers to discover Dakhla through an experience described as a “Moroccan adventure”.

However, the campaign drew criticism because Dakhla is located in Western Sahara, a territory that has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since 1963.

In a preliminary opinion dated 12 October 2026, Ireland’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) concluded that the advertisements risked misleading consumers.

Ryanair faces a regulatory warning

The advertising authority has recommended that its independent council uphold the complaint and request that the advertisement no longer be displayed in its current form.

However, this is not yet a final decision, as it still needs to be approved by the competent council.

Ryanair, for its part, maintains that its communications were intended solely to promote the tourist destination and did not express a political position.

Western Sahara’s status at the heart of the debate

The case has once again drawn attention to the legal status of Western Sahara, which is claimed by Morocco but regarded by the United Nations as a territory whose decolonisation process remains incomplete.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has also reiterated in several rulings that Western Sahara has a status separate and distinct from that of Morocco.

Beyond a simple tourism campaign, the controversy highlights the legal and political consequences that can arise from the commercial presentation of a disputed territory.

For Ryanair, the case could lead to changes in its promotional communications, while the question of Western Sahara continues to spark debate on the international stage.

Algeria Gate: Algeria’s history stretches back thousands of years, from prehistoric settlements in the Sahara to the rise of ancient kingdoms in North Africa. The country ranks fifth among the world’s oldest countries in a list published by Indian news outlet India.com, highlighting its rich historical and cultural heritage.

According to the report, Algeria’s roots as a sovereign entity date back to 202 BC, when King Massinissa founded the Numidian kingdom, one of the most prominent powers in ancient North Africa.

A heritage dating back thousands of years

Algeria’s history extends far beyond the Numidian kingdom. The report highlights archaeological evidence and prehistoric rock art in Tassili n’Ajjer National Park, which suggest that human presence in the region dates back to around 7000 BC.

Located in southeastern Algeria, Tassili n’Ajjer is renowned for its ancient rock paintings, which offer a glimpse into the lives of communities that inhabited the Sahara thousands of years ago.

Algeria among five ancient nations

The ranking places Iran first, followed by India, China and Japan, with Algeria in fifth place. The list uses historical milestones to trace the origins of these countries.

From prehistoric art in the Sahara to the Numidian kingdom, Algeria’s history reflects a long succession of human settlements and civilizations, leaving behind a remarkable heritage that continues to shape the country’s identity today.