Algeria cracks down on water sector corruption amid public outrage

Algeria has moved decisively to tackle corruption and mismanagement in the water sector, as reported by The Arab Weekly plus agencies on September 10.

Following citizen complaints and ministerial investigations, authorities dismissed senior officials in Djelfa and Ain Oussera, where outages lasting up to 20 days forced residents to rely on costly water tankers despite the presence of numerous wells.

The measures come as part of a broader government effort to restore trust in public services and reinforce accountability. The Ministry of Water Resources confirmed that inspectors documented severe management deficiencies and poor oversight, prompting the first wave of dismissals and laying the groundwork for structural reforms.

The public outrage over the issue is evidenced by the protests in Tiaret in 2024, where residents blocked roads and staged sit-ins over water rationing during a heatwave. The demonstrations quickly escalated into clashes with security forces, with the government responding by deploying water trucks and dismissing local officials.

At the same time, Freedom House, in its 2023 country report on Algeria, underscored systemic weaknesses that undermine the effectiveness of anti-corruption campaigns. It noted that although the government frequently announces investigations and dismissals, Algeria still suffers from limited transparency, weak judicial independence, and heavy restrictions on media and civil society. These constraints mean that corruption often goes unpunished at higher levels, while accountability measures tend to be selective and short-lived.

A recent feature on Morocco’s worsening water shortages revealed how poor planning and climate pressures are straining resources across North Africa, underscoring that Algeria’s own reforms cannot be delayed.

This comes at the backdrop of Algeria’s efforts to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and expand its economic base, with leaders stressing that sustainable development requires stronger accountability and more efficient institutions.

The Arab Weekly plus agencies, Maghrebi.org, The Guardian, Freedom House