File photo of Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,at El Mouradia Palace in Algiers, Algeria, on March 30, 2022. AP Photo
File photo of Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,at El Mouradia Palace in Algiers, Algeria, on March 30, 2022. AP Photo
File photo of Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,at El Mouradia Palace in Algiers, Algeria, on March 30, 2022. AP Photo
File photo of Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,at El Mouradia Palace in Algiers, Algeria, on March 30, 2022. AP Photo

Algeria’s president sacks finance minister four months after appointment


Amr Mostafa
  • English
  • Arabic

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has signed a decree removing Finance Minister Abderrahmane Raouya, the presidency said on Tuesday.

The decision was made after consultations with the country’s prime minister, the presidency added in a statement.

Mr Tebboune assigned General Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Brahim Djamel Kassali to take over Mr Raoya’s position in the interim, the statement said.

Mr Raouya was appointed in February after having held the post twice before in the past five years.

No reason was given for the shuffle.

Mr Tebboune also appointed Mustapha Haydawi to head the Higher Council for Youth, the presidency said in a tweet.

Algeria’s economy relies heavily on exporting energy - and the current fuel crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with the Covid-19 pandemic, has worsened the country’s already difficult economic situation.

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Updated: June 15, 2022, 5:24 AM