Maghreb Edition

Algeria: The ex-official who won’t quit: PM Ouyahia defends ex Energy Minister Chakib KhelilF

Posted On 3 November 2017

Number of times this article was read : 413

The North Africa Journal-  November 3, 2017 – In an unexpected move, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia has defended Chakib Khelil, the former Energy Minister who was allegedly involved in the big corruption scandals that hit Sonatrach while he was in office. The PM claims that Chakib Khelil was the victim of a “terrible injustice” after legal action was launched against him. This issue has divided the presidential majority, as the Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front (FLN), Djamel Ould Abbes has reacted to this statement by saying “If we are not confident in our courts, nothing would matter anymore.” Djamel Ould Abbes has called on the PM to “assume his responsibilities” for doubting the judiciary.

Former oil boss Chakib Khelil has had his name implicated in scandals related to alleged bribes paid by foreign companies operating in Algeria. Italian courts have been looking at this for a long time, and despite efforts from Algerian courts, the legal system there seems to have dropped the cases against Khelil. The latter is reported to be interested in running for President, although we do not see him winning any substantial support from the military, if he decides to run, given the bad publicity surrounding his tenure as minister. But Khelil continues to make the front pages of Algerian newspapers and despite bad publicity against him, he does not look like ready to retire anytime soon.

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco Becomes Africa’s Top-Ranked Industrial Economy$

Morocco has become Africa’s leading industrial economy, followed by South Africa and Egypt. The African Development Bank (AfDB) ranked Tunisia fourth, reinforcing North Africa’s position as one of the continent’s principal industrial regions. The AfDB’s 2025 Africa Industrialization Index placed Morocco ahead of South Africa as Africa’s highest-ranked industrial economy.

Algerian Gas Exports to Europe Rise for Fourth Consecutive Month$

Algeria continued to expand natural gas exports to Europe during the first four months of 2026, benefiting from steady pipeline deliveries to key markets including Spain and Italy. While Europe’s gas market continues shifting toward LNG imports, Algeria has maintained its position as one of the continent’s leading pipeline suppliers through a combination of established infrastructure, long-term contracts, and growing LNG activity.

North African Countries Among World’s Cheapest for Gasoline, Lead Global Rankings$

North African countries currently rank among the cheapest places in the world to buy gasoline, according to international price data published in late April 2026. The global average pump price for gasoline stood at around $1.49 per liter, while several North African producers were charging less than half that level. Libya, Algeria and Egypt all sit among the most affordable markets globally — though two non-African countries, Venezuela and Iran, rank between Libya and the rest of the African group in the worldwide table.

Written by The NAJ

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.