On 5 July, Algeria celebrated 63 years of independence after 132 years of French colonial rule. The anniversary’s official designation – ‘Independence and Youth Day’ – underscores the symbolic and historic relationship between Algerian aspirations after reclaiming sovereignty and the role of youth in national development. Young people, who account for almost 70 percent of the population, have theoretically been central to official state rhetoric and policies, with specialized institutions and economic initiatives created in their name. In practice, however, frustrations with the older ‘revolutionary generation’ have deepened. In 2019, Algeria’s youth played a decisive role in the Hirak protest movement that ended President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s two decades in power, compelling the state to place greater emphasis on youth concerns.
More than five years later, the promise of Hirak remains only partially fulfilled. Algeria must advance meaningful reforms that harness the capacity of youth and enable their political and socioeconomic inclusion. Persisting with the current established approaches will only exacerbate youth grievances and the brain-drain crisis. While a desire for change exists among the political class, efforts to empower youth remain obstructed by a lack of trust between citizens and leadership, bureaucratic resistance to change, and a sociopolitical environment that has yet to deliver on the hopes of 2019.
Youth frustrations and state responses
President Bouteflika’s absence from public life after 2013 and his entourage’s attempt to impose a fifth termwere key provocations behind youth participation in the 2019 protest movement. However, their grievances ran deeper – to systemic exclusion from policymaking and the monopoly of the elder ‘revolutionary generation’ over strategic decisions, which marginalized youth voices. Additionally, the hydrocarbons-focused economic visionof the Bouteflika era disregarded the potential of Algerian youth and excluded them from development plans and investment strategies.
Under the administration of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the authorities have sought to channel popular demands into state structures, institutions and policies by proposing a vision that integrates youth participation. Efforts have resulted in the creation of the High Council of Youth, a government advisory body representing the needs of young people, and the opening of limited space for a new generation of young politicians in parliament and local assemblies. On the economic front, the government has increased investment in youth-led innovation and startups, amending rigid commercial regulations to facilitate the development of new projects and granting special social and legal protections to young entrepreneurs. These efforts have been complemented by international partners, who have offered funding in addition to scientific, educational and business exchanges to support Algerian youth.
Political engagement and the call for open debate
While such progress is welcome, the state has yet to engage in open debate with youth over the future of Algeria’s governance model. Since 2019, Algerian youth have gone beyond criticism of the reigning post-independence social contract to voice their support for subtle alternatives – from greater engagement in political institutions to economic initiatives that demand accountability. Despite the closed nature of the Algerian establishment, they have demonstrated an ability to navigate constraints, using new tools, such as social media, to participate in public debate. Despite the legal and political risks associated with social media activism, young civil society activists and political figures continue to carry the spirit of the February 2019uprising, pushing for inclusive governance and rule of law.
Nonetheless, attempts to revitalize political debate are often hindered by Algeria’s restrictive political and media environment and the rise of populist rhetoric in both media and political discourse. Online activism therefore remains limited both in scope and volume, with many young people focusing on engaging with less sensitive economic and social topics. Increasingly, Algerian youth are pursuing private projects and startups as a means of influencing economic development. Economic diversification was highlighted as a key demand of the 2019 protest movement, with many Algerian youth understanding that political power was not a prerequisite for shaping the country’s economic trajectory. Today, Algeria hosts around 700 active startups – and 9,000 registered – in fields such as technology, e-businesses, services, and social impact, according to independent estimates. Moreover, the need for progress on national priorities – from climate change and energy transition to industrial revival – is incentivizing young engineers, innovators and technologists to design projects in water desalination, solar plants, data centres and automobile factories, among others. These efforts are also attracting contributions from the Algerian diaspora, whose members are sharing their knowledge and expertise – through state institutions and as part of individual and citizen-led initiatives – and are gradually establishing a technical bridge between Algeria and their countries of settlement.
Engaging youth in the future of Algeria’s social contract
Despite support from both Algerian authorities and international partners, the promises of the 2019 uprising remain unfulfilled. Nevertheless, the country’s current momentum, driven by robust youth energy in a pivotal phase of Algeria’s history, creates space for meaningful policy changes that guarantee political participation and economic empowerment. Algerian authorities can begin by further encouraging the inclusion of youth in decision-making processes, including by facilitating greater openness to online debate. A priority should be increasing youth representation in elected office – particularly in advance of the Algerian National Assembly elections in 2026. Efforts could focus on facilitating greater youth representation within political parties and more responsibilities for young people occupying positions in state institutions, thereby incentivizing others to follow suit. Beyond politics, the authorities should invest in youth-led economic projects and invite young people, including members of the diaspora, into a national dialogue on long-term economic strategy.
With the Algerian leadership’s guidance and oversight, these steps will ultimately enable Algeria’s youth to help redefine the country’s social contract. The 2019 uprising was an early sign that the post-independence governance model had run its course. Algeria’s future stability and prosperity will depend on the capacity of both the establishment and the younger generation to work together on an informal and gradual transition. Algerians have initiated deep shifts in politics, economy and society since 2019 – and in stable and peaceful conditions relative to the broader region. However, the challenge for all actors, especially the youth, will be to re-imagine their country’s structures in a way that safeguards Algeria’s historical principles while aligning with the standards of efficient and democratic policymaking.
