Algeria to Replace French Language with English at its Universities

Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Algeria to Replace French Language with English at its Universities

Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Algerian authorities have decided to replace the French language with English at universities, starting the new academic year in September.

Last year, they launched procedures to start teaching English, in the first educational stages, to replace French in wake of severe political tensions with Paris.

On July 1, the Ministry of Higher Education’s Secretary-General sent a letter to university directors asking them to organize meetings and form pedagogical teams before the summer vacation to prepare for the adoption of English as the language of instruction in the next academic year.

He confirmed that the National Committee would supervise and follow up on the preparations and will organize field visits to university institutions in July to evaluate their preparations.

Observers tied the decision to new tensions between Algeria and France.

Algeria is monitoring with concern efforts by far-right French lawmakers to annul a 1968 agreement that controls immigration between the two countries. The MPs claim that the deal has not helped limit immigration to France.

Algeria, meanwhile, rejected a French request to take back thousands of its illegal migrants. Paris retaliated by cutting the number of visas issued to Algerians.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was scheduled to visit France in mid-May but the trip was postponed to June and in the end it never transpired. No reason was given.

The cancellation of the visit could be related to the disputes that never end between the two countries.

Algeria was a French colony for 130 years and gained independence in 1962 after a devastating eight-year war. Paris has repeatedly refused to apologize for the occupation, a source of deep contention with Algiers.

In 2021, Algerian government agencies decided to stop using French in their correspondence amid tensions with France.

They decided to begin the adoption of Arabic on November 1, the date of the anniversary of the eruption of the Algerian revolution against French colonialism.

Observers said the move was in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s denial of "the existence of an Algerian nation" before the French invasion of Algeria in 1830.



Malaysia Calls for Rejection of Forced Palestinian Displacement Plan

The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Malaysia Calls for Rejection of Forced Palestinian Displacement Plan

The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Kuala Lumpur has stressed the need for unified condemnation of a plan aimed at annexing Gaza and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people, urging nations with influence over Israel to push for a resolution to the crisis.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting in Makkah on Friday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan called on major global powers and institutions to denounce the displacement plan.
Hasan expressed hope that the OIC, in coordination with UN agencies and other international bodies, could advance a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan for war-torn countries such as Lebanon and Syria. He also reaffirmed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in driving collective action forward.
Malaysia, he added, will coordinate with like-minded nations to facilitate emergency relief efforts, capacity-building initiatives, and medium- to long-term reconstruction projects, particularly in Gaza and potentially beyond.
The minister further stated that his country remains committed to achieving a just, lasting, and sustainable peace for Palestine. He reiterated Malaysia’s strong support for early recovery, reconstruction, and development in Gaza, in line with Egypt’s proposal at the Extraordinary Arab Summit for Palestine held in Cairo on March 4, 2025.
He noted that Kuala Lumpur urges all OIC members to fully back this initiative, stressing that a permanent solution is essential to establishing an independent Palestinian state. This, he emphasized, should be based on a two-state solution in accordance with international law and UN resolutions, with East Jerusalem as its capital along the pre-1967 borders.
The foreign minister underscored that the establishment of a Palestinian state would bring much-needed peace and stability to the region, particularly in Lebanon and Syria. He also stressed the right of all displaced Palestinians, whether in Egypt, Jordan, or elsewhere, to return to their homeland.
Hasan condemned any call for the forced displacement of Palestinians or the annexation of Gaza, describing it as not only “unrealistic and impractical” but also as an act of “ethnic cleansing and a grave violation of international law.” Such measures, he argued, constitute a direct affront to justice and human rights.
“The proposal has faced near-universal rejection,” he said, “strongly opposed by countries worldwide and, above all, by Arab and Islamic communities. The urgency of this crisis is precisely why the Arab and Islamic world has come together to take decisive action.”
Malaysia, he added, has consistently condemned Israel’s war and its violations against Palestinians, as well as Tel Aviv’s persistent attempts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to multilateralism, respect for international law, and the UN system.
Saudi-Malaysian Relations: Stronger Than Ever
On the state of bilateral ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, Hasan described the relationship as “stronger than ever,” citing regular high-level engagement between the two nations. He noted that he maintains close communication with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, with both countries recently intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, infrastructure, and science and technology.
To ensure effective collaboration, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have established the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council (SMCC), co-led by the two foreign ministers. The council is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the implementation of strategic initiatives within a structured timeframe, ensuring tangible progress in areas of mutual interest.