Algeria implements emergency measures to regulate market prices

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered immediate measures to regulate the domestic market and protect consumer purchasing power against rising prices. During a Council of Ministers meeting, the President directed the implementation of several strategies to stabilize the supply of essential goods.

Key directives include drafting legislation to strictly regulate intermediaries between producers and consumers, and launching an investigation into importers suspected of monopolizing and inflating the price of imported meat. To manage market fluctuations, the Ministry of the Interior will coordinate with regional governors to purchase and store local production surpluses, which will be released when price indicators rise.

The Ministry of Commerce is tasked with capping prices and profit margins for vegetables, legumes, pasta, and meat, while doubling field inspection teams. Additionally, a digital database will be created in coordination with the High Commission for Digitalization to provide real-time monitoring and early warnings of abnormal price spikes.

Professional organizations, such as the Union générale des commerçants et artisans algériens (UGCAA), have expressed satisfaction with these directives, noting they are essential for market transparency. Meanwhile, economists note that these measures are part of a broader, long-term goal to transition Algeria toward a more liberalized economy by 2027.