In December 2024, Algeria’s National AI Council officially adopted the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The strategy is structured around six pillars: scientific research and innovation; skills development through education; sector-specific applications in healthcare, agriculture, and energy; national data infrastructure; regulatory frameworks; and international partnerships. The strategy includes plans for a national AI fund and targets to attract domestic and international investment. Algeria has 57,702 students enrolled across 74 AI master’s programmes in 52 universities, providing a significant academic foundation. A Huawei-backed vocational training initiative, starting September 2026, will deliver certified training in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI to vocational trainees, culminating in a joint diploma from the Ministry and Huawei.
Who it affects: University students, vocational trainees, researchers, and workers in the target sectors. The strategy’s skills pillar is primarily focused on building a talent pipeline, not on broad-population AI literacy.
What is notably missing: Algeria has not yet adopted AI-specific legislation. The strategy document acknowledges the absence of a comprehensive legal and ethical framework. There is no binding mandate for AI literacy in schools, no requirement on employers to train staff, and no civil servant AI training standard. The National AI Council is described as a strategy-setting body; Algeria lacks a named AI regulator with enforcement powers. Digital infrastructure is fragmented and territorial disparities persist.