Algiers – The Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Youssef Belmahdi, received a delegation of prominent scholars and religious figures from several Sahel African nations at the ministry headquarters on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a scientific symposium hosted by the Supreme Islamic Council, focusing on “Religious Diplomacy in the African Sahel: Potential and Stakes.”
This reception underscores Algeria’s growing role in promoting religious diplomacy as a complementary pillar of its foreign policy, particularly within the Sahel region. The aim is to foster values of moderation, peaceful coexistence, and to counter extremist narratives that threaten regional stability.
The initiative reflects Algeria’s commitment to strengthening scientific and religious partnerships with scholars across the African continent. It also reinforces Algeria’s position as a key reference point in the dissemination of moderate Islam, emphasizing peace, dialogue, and respect for the cultural and religious specificities of different peoples.
This meeting highlights the commitment of Algerian authorities, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, to leveraging the religious dimension in service of regional stability and to support African convergence efforts. This is particularly crucial given the security and ideological challenges facing the Sahel region.
Algeria is actively pursuing strategies that contribute to regional stability, and this engagement with religious leaders from the Sahel is a significant component of that effort.
