Algeria replaces prime minister amid bus crash speculation

On August 28^th, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dismissed Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui. Appointed in his place as acting head of government was Industry and Pharmaceutical Production Minister Sifi Ghrieb, as published by Reuters on August 29^th.

Larbaoui, a former diplomat appointed PM in 2023, had submitted his resignation last September but was asked by Tebboune to remain in office. State media provided no official explanation for his removal.

Larbaoui’s absence from a meeting on transport safety following a deadly bus crash in Algiers earlier this month in which 18 people died has fuelled speculation, according to a report published by The New Arab on 29^th August. The crash drew wide public criticism, and on August 26^th Tebboune announced measures to improve transport safety, including importing new buses to replace ageing fleets.

Political analyst Mohammed Ben Yeto said the government’s response to the incident was perceived as weak and that many Algerians were expecting change. He suggested that Larbaoui’s position might have been strengthened had he shown greater visibility in the aftermath of the incident.

Ghrieb, 51, is a chemist with a long career in Algeria’s industrial sector. Before joining the government, he chaired the Algerian-Qatari Steel company, directed the National Recovery Company and headed the Industrial University under the Ministry of Industry. He has played a role in several major projects, including drilling Algeria’s first petroleum well with domestically produced cement and overseeing the manufacture of the country’s first locally made marine engine.

His entry into government has seen a push for policies aimed at boosting local production, reducing imports and attracting foreign investment. Local media have described him as a proponent of relying on national expertise to revitalise Algeria’s struggling industrial base.