President Abdelmadjid Tebboune chaired a pivotal Council of Ministers meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026, unveiling a suite of directives aimed at immediate social relief and the acceleration of long-stalled industrial projects.
A centerpiece of the social measures is a 10 million centime subsidy for Algerian Hajj pilgrims, which reduces the total cost for the 2026 season from 92 million to 82 million centimes. This move comes as the government seeks to alleviate the financial burden on citizens amid persistent inflationary pressures.
On the economic front, the President issued a firm directive to launch the Oued Amizour zinc and lead mining project in Bejaia province by March 2026. This project is a key pillar of Algeria’s diversification strategy, expected to create thousands of jobs and reduce the nation’s reliance on hydrocarbons. Additionally, Tebboune ordered monthly progress reports on the mining railway connecting Bled El Hadba to the Annaba port, emphasizing that the infrastructure must be operational by early 2027 to boost the country’s fertilizer export capacity.
The meeting also carried a strong message of national unity through sport. Despite the national team’s recent quarter-final exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, President Tebboune formally renewed his confidence in coach Vladimir Petković and the squad. He praised the unwavering support of the Algerian diaspora during the tournament and framed the upcoming 2026 World Cup as a “strategic national objective.” By combining targeted financial aid with aggressive timelines for industrial growth, the administration aims to translate high-level policy into tangible results for a public increasingly focused on purchasing power and employment.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA