Algeria - The African Mirror

Aug

16

2024

Paris 2024: How Africa performed in Paris and the road to the 2028 LA Olympics

SPORT

STEPHEN GRANGER FOR a little over two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Paris-based spectators and billions globally were treated to another edition of ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. The Olympic Games have no equal as a vehicle to show off the extraordinary sporting talent of the human race. Tickets for sports, which normally would scarcely attract more than the families of the participants, were snapped up at eye-wateringly high prices. Sports such as judo, badminton, table tennis, sport climbing, BMX, skateboarding, and yes, even ‘breaking’, were played to packed stadiums and arenas. Track and field, which in many parts of…

Aug

06

2024

By ANNE TJØNNDAL

Women’s boxing in Olympic storm: who is Algeria’s Imane Khelif and what are the issues she’s facing?

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

IMANE Khelif from Algeria is one of two women boxers at the 2024 Paris Olympics making the news – as ugly issues of gender testing and testosterone levels once again raise their heads, as they did in the case of South African runner Caster Semenya. Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting failed a questionable gender test allegedly administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023 but were declared fit for entry by the International Olympic Committee. Both are female and identify as such, yet one of Khelif’s opponents has fuelled a public outcry that she has an unfair advantage,…

Jun

12

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Nigeria lose World Cup qualifier, Ghana and Algeria win, Egypt held

FOOTBALL

NIGERIA’S World Cup qualifying hopes took a heavy blow with a 2-1 defeat by Benin, but Ghana and Algeria salvaged wins while Egypt drew after all three were behind at halftime. Ghana's Jordan Ayew got a hat-trick as they beat the Central African Republic 4-3 in Kumasi after trailing 2-1 at the break, while Algeria were 1-0 down to Uganda in Kampala but second-half goals from Houssem Aouar and Said Benrahma secured a 2-1 win. Mohamed Salah came to Egypt’s rescue with a sensational equaliser for a 1-1 draw in Guinea Bissau. Nigeria lost away to Benin, who were forced…

May

30

2024

By MICHELLE NICHOLS

Algeria proposes UN action to ‘stop killing in Rafah’

NEWS

ALGERIA proposed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that demands a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and essentially orders Israel to "immediately halt its military offensive" in Rafah. Algeria's U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama said earlier on Tuesday - after a closed-door meeting of the 15-member U.N. security body on Gaza - that the move aimed to "stop the killing in Rafah." Algeria is a council member for 2024/25. The Algerian draft text, seen by Reuters, uses the strongest Security Council language - it "decides that Israel, the occupying Power, shall immediately halt its military…

Feb

24

2024

By LAMINE CHIKHI

Algeria and Mauritania open border gate to boost trade

BUSINESS

THE presidents of Algeria and Mauritania opened a gate at the border of the two North African countries to strengthen bilateral ties and boost trade. The leaders have also agreed to set up a free trade zone and build an 847-kilometre (526-mile) road that will link the Algerian town of Tindouf to Mauritania's Ezouirat. "Hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers and workers in the public sector and housing sectors are happy," Dida Abdewahab, a Tindouf resident, told Reuters. The agreement comes a few days after OPEC member Algeria announced it would invest $442 million in energy projects in Mali, Niger and Libya.…

Feb

10

2024

By The African Mirror

Algeria’s Sonatrach to supply Germany with pipeline gas for first time

NEWS

Germany will receive its first supplies of pipeline natural gas from Algeria under a medium-term contract signed between a subsidiary of trader VNG AG and state-owned oil and gas firm Sonatrach, the companies said on Thursday. "We are happy to strengthen our energy business partnerships with Europe through this landmark agreement with the company VNG," Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi said in a statement. This makes VNG the first German company to purchase pipeline gas from Algeria, the statement cited VNG's CEO as saying. The agreement is with Leipzig-based VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH (VNG), a wholly owned subsidiary of VNG…

Feb

03

2024

By MICHELLE NICHOLS

Algeria pushes UN Security Council to demand Gaza ceasefire

NEWS

ALGERIA has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a move that the United States - a council veto power - opposes because it says it would only benefit the Palestinian militants. The draft, seen by Reuters on Thursday, also "rejects the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population" and again demands all parties comply with international law and calls for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip. Algeria shared the draft with the 15-member council on Wednesday, diplomats said, after the body met to…

Oct

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Algeria’s state oil and gas firm Sonatrach plans $1 billion project for natural carbon storage

NEWS

ALGERIA'S state oil and gas firm Sonatrach has plans for a $1 billion project for natural carbon storage through planting 420 million trees over 10 years, Algeria's Ennahar TV reported, citing Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab as saying. Arkab added that Algeria, a major gas exporter, aimed to have renewables accounting for 30% of its energy mix by 2035, Ennahar reported.

Oct

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Hamas-Israel conflict: Algeria offers to host Palestine’s football matches – the bigger history

FOOTBALL

PALESTINE was about to embark on its 2026 men’s Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign when the latest round of Hamas-Israeli conflict broke out, making Palestine’s national football stadium in the Israeli-occupied West Bank potentially unsafe for matches. As a result, the Asian Football Confederation asked the football-loving nation to stage its home matches in a neutral venue. Algeria in North Africa offered to host Palestine’s games and cover its players’ costs. Mahfoud Amara is a specialist in the intersection of sport and politics with a particular research focus on football in the Arab world. We asked him three questions. MAHFOUD…

Mar

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Algeria win to join teams qualified for 2024 Africa Cup of Nations

FOOTBALL

MARK GLEESON ALGERIA secured a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 away win over Niger that ensured a top-two finish in their qualifying group with two games to go. They will join neighbours Morocco, who qualified last Friday without kicking a ball, in the field of 24-team for the finals in the Ivory Coast next January. Nigeria, Congo, Guinea, Sudan and the Central African Republic, who have never previously qualified for the finals, were also winners on Monday. Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah slipped through the defence in the fifth minute to put the visitors ahead…