Minister Mohamed Meziane Urges Strategic Support for Amazigh Language in National Media

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Speaking at a scholarly event in Batna, Minister Mohamed Meziane emphasized the importance of strengthening Tamazight’s media presence in alignment with the Constitution and the President’s enlightened vision of cultural inclusivity.

Algiers, Algeria | May 17th, 2025 — Algeria’s Minister of Communication, Mohamed Meziane, issued a firm call on Saturday for the consolidation of all constructive visions and initiatives aimed at elevating the status of the Tamazight language in Algeria’s national media landscape. His statement came during the opening ceremony of a study day held at Hadj Lakhdar University in Batna, under the theme “Media in Tamazight in Algeria: Valuing Experience and Envisioning the Future.”

Organized by the High Commission for Amazighity (HCA) in collaboration with the Aurès Association of Correspondents and Journalists, the event served as a platform to both assess past efforts and chart future strategies to enhance Tamazight’s presence in the Algerian public sphere.

In his address, Minister Meziane stressed that this initiative aligns with the forward-looking approach of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which seeks to grant Tamazight its rightful status as a cornerstone of Algeria’s national identity. “Supporting Tamazight in media platforms is not merely a cultural duty but a constitutional imperative,” the Minister declared.

He highlighted the essential role of synergy between state institutions and the Ministry of Communication to achieve a media sector that genuinely reflects Algeria’s rich cultural plurality. According to Meziane, such coordination is “a strategic necessity for cultivating a national media ecosystem that embodies the diversity and depth of Algerian identity.”

The Minister pointed to substantial efforts made by the Algerian state to promote Tamazight within the media sphere, beginning with the launch of a dedicated radio channel broadcasting in various Tamazight dialects. He also praised the High Commission for Amazighity for its long-standing dedication to institutionalizing Tamazight in public media, including the significant presence of the language and its cultural heritage on national television screens.

A notable milestone, Meziane said, is the creation of a Tamazight-language news platform by the Algeria Press Service (APS), which has since evolved into a fully functional Tamazight news section thanks to the diligence of a specialized editorial team. “This progression is a testament to the commitment of Algerian media professionals in preserving and elevating this national and official language,” he added.

Moreover, the Minister invoked the historical legacy of Tamazight in Algeria’s struggle for independence. He emphasized that the revolutionary radio programs during the War of Liberation were broadcast in both Arabic and Tamazight—standing side by side to defend the Algerian people’s right to freedom and to rally the population around the national cause.

He took the opportunity to pay tribute to all Algerian journalists and technicians who served during the War of Liberation, including those who were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for their contributions. He made special mention of the late Zahia Kherfallah, who later became director of the second radio channel in Tamazight after independence.

The academic event will continue with two panel sessions: the first titled “Tamazight Media: Realities and Aspirations,” and the second focusing on “Challenges and Forward-looking Perspectives.” These sessions include seven scholarly interventions and an open-floor discussion to evaluate the trajectory of Tamazight-language journalism in Algeria.

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