Press, unemployment allowances, non-hydrocarbon export, Algeria’s redeployment in Africa, corruption, embezzled funds…President Tebboune’ statements! 

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS-  “There are some media outlets that do not provide social security coverage for their staff, and when the law is enforced, they hide behind freedom of expression,” declared the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during his periodic interview with representatives of local media, broadcast yesterday by national television channels.

The president said he is in favor of a critical press that benefits the country, not the press of insult and slander. “I am ready to hear your concerns and to take serious decisions,” said President Tebboune.

“The press in our country is the one that creates public opinion, not the one that stirs up controversy,” the president said, noting that he tried to break the ice between public and private channels.

Unemployment allowances

Since the introduction of the unemployment benefit, 20,000 young people have given up the benefit after obtaining a permanent job, President Tebboune said.

Algeria to continue its redeployment towards Africa

In the same vein, the President did not fail to reiterate the will of Algeria to continue its redeployment towards Africa, in particular through the opening of new airlines to serve many destinations.

Similarly, the President announced many new measures, including the launch of an international radio station dedicated to Africa, the establishment of permanent trade fairs in certain African capitals, such as Dakar, Abidjan, and Nouakchott, as well as the opening of new maritime transport lines to the Senegalese and Mauritanian capitals, which, he said, has not been easy to achieve due to blocking attempts by certain foreign lobbies.

“A great battle was waged to open the Dakar Passage and the Nouakchott shipping line,” he said. He ordered the creation of banks in Senegal and Mauritania.

In addition, he said, the Algerian agency for international cooperation for solidarity and development will launch, in a few months, many development projects in certain regions of neighboring countries, including a school and a clinic in Kidal, in northern Mali, as well as drinking water boreholes at the request of neighboring African countries.

Non-hydrocarbon economy

For the first time, we have embarked on a $13 billion hydrocarbon-free economy. Currently, we export iron and cement to Europe and America, said the President of the Republic.

“The development of the country is the first and last objective. The fight against corruption continues with the help of European countries,” underlined President Tebboune, who specified that we have recovered 22 billion dollars of embezzled funds.