Algiers has announced a new distribution of responsibilities within the Office of the President and the government, with the appointment of Lounès Magramane as Chief of Staff to the President and the return of Brahim Merad to the Ministry of the Interior.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune made top level appointments as part of a reorganisation of the executive branch, characterised by the return of experienced officials to strategic positions.
Lounes Magramane succeeds Boualem Boualem as Chief of Staff to the President. A career diplomat, he had served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since June 2023.
Throughout his career, he has held various roles within the central administration and at Algerian diplomatic missions abroad, including in Niger,
Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. He has also participated in various mediation processes and the work of African and international bodies.
His appointment comes at a time when the coordination of presidential files and the management of relations with other institutions are key priorities for the Algerian executive.
His expertise in diplomatic matters and administrative processes is expected to facilitate his
transition into the role of Chief of Staff – a position tasked, among other things, with ensuring liaison between the head of state and the various branches of the administration.
For his part, Brahim Merad returns to the Ministry of the Interior, which he previously headed
from September 2022 to September 2025. Born in 1953 in Batna, he spent the bulk of his career in territorial administration, serving as ‘wali’ (prefect/regional governor) in several regions of the country.
Appointed Mediator of the Republic in May 2021, he subsequently joined the government before being tasked, in September 2025, with overseeing the General Inspectorate of State Services and Local Authorities.
This return comes at a time when the Ministry of the Interior remains central to territorial management, the functioning of local authorities, and the implementation of public policy.
Brahim Merad’s experience in decentralized administration serves as an asset for overseeing matters related to the ‘wilayas’ (provinces) and local public services.
This reorganisation also entails a new distribution of ministerial portfolios. Sayedd Sayoud retains the Transport sector, which is now separate from the Interior portfolio.
Through these changes, Abdelmadjid Tebboune is relying on officials who have previously held
significant roles within the state, in a move aimed at ensuring administrative continuity and restructuring executive responsibilities.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/as/APA