SEAAL Embraces English: Algeria’s Capital Water Company Phases Out French in Major Language Shift

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

In line with President Tebboune’s national strategy to adopt English and reduce French influence, SEAAL introduces bilingual Arabic-English water bills, reflecting a broader shift in Algeria’s institutional and educational landscape.

Algiers, Algeria | May 8th, 2025 —   In a historic and strategically significant move, the Algiers Water and Sanitation Company (SEAAL) has officially launched a new water billing system written exclusively in Arabic and English, marking the definitive abandonment of French as the secondary language in one of Algeria’s key public utilities. This reform is a bold reflection of the Algerian state’s broader policy under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to embrace English as the country’s international language of communication and technological progress.

The decision, announced Wednesday in a press release and reported by national outlets including APS, signifies a transformative moment in Algeria’s post-colonial linguistic transition. SEAAL will now issue over five million bilingual bills per month in Arabic and English, completely eliminating French—a language long associated with Algeria’s colonial past—from its customer communication tools.

Strategic Shift Towards Global Norms

SEAAL stated that the initiative is not merely administrative but deeply strategic. The adoption of English aims to enhance the quality of service, facilitate communication with international partners, and align with global business and digital standards. “English has become the global language of business, technology, and innovation,” the company affirmed in its statement. “Its integration reflects our openness to international norms and our commitment to digital transformation.”

The company has already initiated a comprehensive language training program for its executives and staff, equipping them with the linguistic skills necessary to navigate a digitized and globally integrated water management environment.

Arabic Remains the Pillar of National Communication

While English assumes a central role in technical and international communication, SEAAL reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Arabic as the foundational language of interaction with Algerian citizens. “Arabic will remain the main channel for public engagement,” the statement noted, underscoring the state’s linguistic sovereignty and cultural identity.

A Broader National Language Revolution

SEAAL’s move is not an isolated development but part of a sweeping national reorientation. In April, Air Algérie announced that its boarding passes and travel documents will now be issued solely in Arabic and English, abandoning French to follow international and Arab aviation standards. “It’s a logical extension of what is already practiced by most international and Arab airlines,” said Abdelkader Salmi, Public Affairs Director at Air Algérie.

Furthermore, the Algerian education system is undergoing a profound transformation. Since 2023, English has been introduced at the primary school level, and in a landmark decision, the Ministry of Higher Education has mandated that, starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, English will replace French as the language of instruction in medical faculties across the country. This policy, announced through a ministerial directive issued in March, applies to all first-year courses in medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. Universities are now mobilizing to ensure that instructors reach the required B2 or C1 level in English to deliver courses effectively.

From Reform to Sovereignty: President Tebboune’s Vision Realized

SEAAL’s abandonment of French aligns seamlessly with the directives of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who has repeatedly called for the reorientation of Algeria’s linguistic and educational policies to match global trends, strengthen sovereignty, and distance the nation from lingering colonial influences. Under his leadership, English is being positioned as the country’s gateway to scientific research, international diplomacy, and modern governance.

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