Algeria faces serious corruption in strategic sectors

Algeria is a country marked by corruption that plagues key national sectors.

The Algerian government is trying to tackle this problem and has recently stepped up efforts to combat corruption and improve transparency in key public services, particularly the water sector. The measures include the dismissal of several officials following official reports and growing citizen complaints over poor management, opaque project execution and alleged corruption, aimed at easing public anger over a prolonged crisis.

Senior authorities in the water resources sector removed the director of the Djelfa region, the head of the Djelfa unit of the Algerian Water Company and the director of the Ain Oussera unit. The move followed field investigations by a ministerial committee in Djelfa and Ain Oussera last week.

The dismissals were prompted by mismanagement and mounting citizen complaints over severe water shortages affecting multiple neighbourhoods and municipalities. Residents reported outages lasting up to 20 days, forcing many to purchase water tankers at high cost. Although the region has numerous wells, coverage reached only half the population, with major disparities between districts. Poor water quality and high salinity further worsened the situation, driving citizens to seek more expensive alternatives.

Corruption has long been one of Algeria’s most persistent challenges, affecting vital sectors including energy, public works, finance and water. Cases have proliferated due to weak oversight, political influence and lack of transparency in managing public funds, allowing some officials to exploit positions for personal gain at the expense of the public interest.

Informed sources said the dismissals followed detailed ministerial reports documenting management deficiencies and the absence of effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms, which had negatively affected citizens’ daily lives. Authorities described the dismissals as the first step in a broader reform programme to hold corrupt officials accountable and improve water resource management efficiency.

The measures come amid repeated water shortages across Algerian cities, despite significant investments in dams, desalination plants and distribution networks. During its visits, the ministerial committee, which included inspectors from the ministry of water resources, proposed practical measures to improve supply, including curbing unauthorised connections and protecting main canals, particularly at the Ouled Said in southern Algeria.

The crisis extended to Djelfa city, where residents across several districts described the situation as “catastrophic” amid a heatwave, despite repeated government promises of solutions. The dismissals in the Algerian Water Company in Djelfa are the first tangible action following the ministerial committee’s visit, with wider structural reforms expected to restore public confidence and ensure fair and consistent water distribution.

Authorities have repeatedly announced judicial investigations into suspected officials and are preparing a new plan incorporating digitisation and field monitoring to reduce manipulation and embezzlement. Observers say these measures reflect government recognition of the urgent need for structural reforms to ensure sustainable water resources and equitable distribution.

Similar steps have been taken in other sectors for the same reasons: corruption, mismanagement and lack of transparency. In October 2024, for example, the government dismissed the CEO of Sider El Hadjar, one of Algeria’s largest industrial complexes, less than 18 months into his tenure over alleged administrative and financial mismanagement.

Corruption in Algeria manifests in many forms, notably bribery and nepotism, widespread in public administration. Fraudulent contracts, embezzlement in import-export deals, mismanagement of infrastructure projects, tax evasion and money-laundering have deprived the state treasury of critical resources while favouring personal or narrow interests over the public good.

Corruption has directly affected the national economy, slowing project execution, increasing unemployment and poverty and weakening the investment climate. It has also eroded public trust in institutions and sparked waves of protest, including the 2019 movement demanding systemic reform and accountability.

Despite progress, observers say the road ahead remains long. Eliminating corruption requires deep institutional and cultural reforms, reinforcement of integrity and transparency, along with the empowerment of civil society and a free press. Anti-corruption efforts are not limited to prosecutions; they form part of a broader reform process to build a strong, accountable, and equitable state.