The 7,400-Camera Expansion
Algeria’s Interior Minister Brahim Merad approved the installation of 5,592 new surveillance cameras across Algiers during an April 2024 visit to the National Security Directorate (DGSN) command and control center. The expansion adds to 1,837 cameras already operational across the capital, bringing the total to approximately 7,429 units covering major intersections, public squares, and transit corridors.
Officials reported that existing cameras have already contributed to improved traffic flow and faster incident response times in central Algiers. The Interior Minister called for accelerating the rollout and extending similar systems to other major wilayas.
The deployment fits within a continental trend. According to the Institute of Development Studies, at least 11 African nations have collectively invested over $2 billion in smart city surveillance infrastructure, with Chinese technology firms including Huawei, ZTE, and Hikvision supplying equipment across all surveyed countries. Nigeria leads continental spending at approximately $470 million. Algeria is among the 11 nations studied, though officials have framed the program around domestic security objectives rather than geopolitical considerations.
Digital Algeria 2030: The Strategic Backbone
The camera deployment is one component of the National Strategy for Digital Transformation (SNTN), a five-pillar plan covering infrastructure, training, digital governance, digital economy, and digital society.
High Commissioner for Digitalization Meriem Benmouloud has outlined the strategy’s key targets: training 500,000 ICT specialists, reducing tech talent emigration by 40%, and increasing the digital sector’s contribution to GDP to 20% by 2030. More than 500 digital projects are scheduled for 2025-2026, with 75% focused on modernizing public services.
Two national data centers anchor the infrastructure push. The Mohammadia facility became the first Algerian building to earn Tier III Design Certification from the Uptime Institute in February 2026, a milestone for digital sovereignty. The Blida center, designed as a geographic disaster recovery site, continues construction. Together, these centers aim to reduce Algeria’s dependence on foreign cloud providers for sensitive government and citizen data.
The strategy also includes an Interactive National Portal for Digital Services and an interoperability platform to centralize administrative procedures, which could mean less bureaucratic friction for ordinary citizens.
AI in Urban Management
The “Algiers Smart City” project, launched in spring 2017 under the wilaya of Algiers, has evolved from a concept into an operational program built on four layers: data acquisition (sensors and cameras), data transmission (wireless and fiber optic networks), data management (storage and processing), and optimization through artificial intelligence and analytics.
Traffic management represents the most visible application. AI algorithms process camera feeds to identify congestion patterns, adjust signal timing, and route emergency vehicles more efficiently. The system’s design scope also extends to waste collection optimization, water network monitoring, and energy consumption analysis.
The Smart Cities Global Technology and Investment Summit, scheduled for June 27-28, 2026, at the Algiers CIC with over 4,000 expected delegates, signals the government’s intent to attract international partners. Oxford Business Group has described Algiers’ smart city approach as a potential model for other developing-world cities.
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The Data Governance Question
Algeria’s surveillance expansion is proceeding alongside a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. On March 4, 2026, the National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (ANPDP) established new rules governing video surveillance systems in the workplace. Key provisions include:
- Internet isolation: Camera systems must not be connected to the internet to prevent data leaks
- Authorization requirements: Installations without night vision require prior permission from the wali after consultation with the wilaya’s security commission
- Prohibited zones: Cameras banned in restrooms, changing rooms, and other privacy-sensitive areas
- Transparency obligations: Operators must visibly inform individuals about surveillance and its purpose
These rules operate under Law 25-11, adopted by the Algerian Parliament in July 2025, which modernized the 2018 data protection framework (Law 18-07) by introducing mandatory Data Protection Officers, detailed processing records, Data Protection Impact Assessments, and a five-day breach notification requirement.
The framework is encouraging, but enforcement capacity remains untested. The ANPDP is a relatively new institution, and scaling oversight to match a deployment of over 7,400 cameras in a single city will require significant institutional capacity building.
What This Means for Algeria’s Tech Ecosystem
The smart city investment creates demand beyond urban management. The 500+ digital projects need local IT talent in systems integration, network engineering, data analytics, and cybersecurity. This is precisely what the 500,000 ICT specialist training target addresses.
For Algeria’s startup ecosystem, the program represents a potential procurement pipeline. Companies specializing in IoT sensors, data visualization, mobile applications, and AI analytics could find opportunities as the government seeks to localize portions of its technology stack.
The video surveillance market in Algeria is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.4% through 2031, according to 6Wresearch, suggesting sustained investment across both public and private sectors.
Challenges Ahead
Several risks could slow the program. Infrastructure gaps outside Algiers, particularly in internet connectivity and power reliability, may limit smart city expansion to secondary cities. The concentration of investment in the capital could deepen the urban-rural digital divide.
Public trust is another variable. Without transparent communication about how surveillance data is used and protected, citizen acceptance could erode. The experience of other African nations suggests that surveillance deployments without robust accountability mechanisms generate public backlash.
Finally, Algeria’s Digital 2030 strategy depends on execution discipline across hundreds of projects simultaneously. Coordinating across ministries, wilayas, and technology vendors will test institutional capacity in ways that previous large-scale technology programs have not always met.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many surveillance cameras will Algiers have after the expansion?
Algiers will have approximately 7,429 cameras once the 5,592 new units are added to the 1,837 already operational across the capital. This makes it one of Africa’s largest single-city surveillance deployments, part of a continent-wide trend where 11 nations have invested over $2 billion in similar infrastructure.
What is Digital Algeria 2030 and what are its main targets?
Digital Algeria 2030 is a five-pillar national strategy covering infrastructure, training, digital governance, digital economy, and digital society. Its headline targets include training 500,000 ICT specialists, reducing tech talent emigration by 40%, increasing the digital sector’s GDP contribution to 20%, and completing over 500 digital projects by 2026, with 75% focused on modernizing public services.
What data protection rules now apply to surveillance cameras in Algeria?
The ANPDP established new workplace surveillance rules on March 4, 2026, requiring internet isolation of camera systems, wali authorization for installations, prohibition of cameras in privacy-sensitive areas, and visible notifications to individuals. These operate under Law 25-11 (July 2025), which mandates Data Protection Officers, impact assessments, and five-day breach notification.
Sources & Further Reading
- Alger: Un projet d’extension du systeme de videosurveillance avec 5.592 cameras — Algerie Eco
- Algeria Aims for Full Digital Transformation by 2030 with New Strategy — We Are Tech Africa
- 75% of Algeria’s Digital Projects to Focus on Modernizing Public Services — Telecom Review Africa
- Le Mohammadia Datacenter obtient la certification Tier III Design — Maghreb Emergent
- ANPDP: nouvelles regles pour la videosurveillance au travail — Algerie Eco
- Rise of Smart City Surveillance Tech Across Africa — Institute of Development Studies
- Algiers Smart City Paves the Way for Other Cities — Oxford Business Group
- Algeria Video Surveillance Market 2025-2031 — 6Wresearch
- Smart Cities Global Technology & Investment Summit — Algiers
