Housing as a Pillar of Justice: President Tebboune’s Vision Echoes Across Africa

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

At Shelter Afrique’s 44th General Assembly in Algiers, Algeria showcases its housing model as a continental benchmark, reaffirming its commitment to equitable urban development and continental solidarity.

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Algiers, Algeria– Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |  In the heart of Algiers, amid a backdrop of global economic turbulence and urban expansion, Algeria seized the continental spotlight as it hosted the 44th General Assembly of Shelter Afrique Development Bank. This pan-African financial institution—newly consecrated as the sole development bank dedicated exclusively to housing—gathered ministers, international financiers, urban planners, and high-level African Union officials to rethink the viability of the continent’s real estate sector.

The symposium, held Tuesday, served as a platform to debate housing not merely as a social necessity, but as a strategic lever for macroeconomic resilience and continental sovereignty. The tone was set by Algeria’s Minister of Housing, Urbanism, and the City, Tarek Belaribi, who delivered a robust address underscoring President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s unwavering prioritization of housing as both a constitutional right and a driver of social justice.

“Housing is not a privilege—it is a fundamental right,” Belaribi affirmed. “President Tebboune has elevated this sector to a national priority, ensuring that no effort is spared to provide every citizen with dignified living conditions. This is a matter of social justice, national stability, and constitutional responsibility.”

According to Belaribi, between 2020 and 2024, Algeria successfully delivered nearly 1.7 million housing units under various schemes across all wilayas, an achievement he described as “unprecedented in scale and entirely funded by the public treasury.” This massive endeavor is not only a testimony to Algeria’s political will but also to its self-sufficiency in implementation. “Unlike past decades, we are no longer importing urban models—we are producing cities,” the minister declared.

He further revealed that over 19,000 classified and qualified construction firms, 9,500 licensed architects, and more than 11,000 accredited real estate developers are now actively contributing to the national urban landscape. “This is a fully Algerian effort—rooted in local expertise, national institutions, and an integrated professional ecosystem,” he said.

The international dimension of the event was amplified by the presence of high-ranking figures, including Selma Malika Haddadi, Vice-President of the African Union Commission, and Thierno Habib, Director-General of Shelter Afrique. Habib lauded Algeria’s achievements, describing the country as “a beacon of resilience, innovation, and public investment in housing.”

“Africa is vibrant and full of promise,” Habib said. “Yet the housing deficit remains a deep structural barrier to inclusive development. Financing housing must be seen not as a cost, but as an economic catalyst—creating jobs, reinforcing social resilience, and enhancing health and education outcomes.”

He emphasized that Shelter Afrique’s strategic ambition is to become the continent’s primary partner for both governments and private stakeholders in delivering affordable and climate-resilient housing solutions. “It’s time we moved beyond fragmented approaches to coordinated continental action,” he asserted.

The symposium’s thematic arc revolved around urban resilience, financial innovation, and continental autonomy. Discussions tackled how to mobilize capital more effectively, forge robust public-private partnerships, and build legal frameworks conducive to sustainable investment in the housing sector. Special focus was given to addressing the acute shortage of affordable housing in African metropolises through tested models and regional collaboration.

For Algeria, this prestigious gathering was more than a diplomatic showcase—it was a strategic opportunity to affirm its continental leadership in social housing. By presenting its model as one anchored in state responsibility, fiscal discipline, and national expertise, Algeria positioned itself as a reference in the ongoing African urban renaissance.

Moreover, the event highlighted how housing is no longer a domestic concern but a geopolitical instrument capable of transforming the urban fabric of Africa. It is now viewed as essential to consolidating continental sovereignty, empowering local communities, and redefining African cities for future generations.

In this sense, Algeria’s commitment to housing is not only an internal policy choice—it is a contribution to a shared African future. The success of its model underscores the potential of publicly driven urban policies, rooted in social justice, to inspire structural transformation well beyond its borders.

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