Algeria ends bid to join BRICS, but stays in group’s Development Bank

Algeria has officially abandoned its efforts to join the BRICS economic group, despite maintaining its membership of the BRICS Development Bank, according to reports from Algerian newspaper El Moudjahid, citing government sources.

This decision comes after recent speculation that BRICS member states had approached Algeria regarding potential membership. However, El Moudjahid clarified that Algeria is no longer pursuing membership, with officials stating that the “BRICS membership file is closed for the Algerian authorities.”

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had previously confirmed that the country would not seek BRICS membership again, following its exclusion from the August 2023 summit in Johannesburg, where six new members were admitted. The Algerian government cited a lack of clear reasoning for their exclusion, with the newspaper criticising the BRICS group for “absurd selection logic” and a failure to adopt a more inclusive approach.

Despite this, Algeria remains committed to its role in global economic frameworks and multilateral cooperation. “Algeria has definitively turned the page” on BRICS membership, said the report, while continuing to advocate for multipolarity in international relations through other platforms like the UN Security Council and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Notably, Algeria was admitted into the BRICS Development Bank last month, strengthening its economic ties with the group. This membership, announced by the Algerian Ministry of Finance in September, allows the country to collaborate on key development projects in emerging markets, even as political disagreements hinder full BRICS integration.

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