• Algeria to receive 10,000 new buses by March 2026

• Over 4,600 buses to replace 30+ year-old vehicles

• Bus renewal follows deadly crash, aims to cut accidents
  

Algeria is expected to start receiving the first batch of 10,000 new buses this November as part of a national program to renew the public transport fleet, local media reported, citing Transport Minister Said Sayoud. Deliveries will continue through March, with about 2,000 buses arriving each month.

The purchase is a key element of the government’s broader effort to modernize public transport and replace aging vehicles in the 84,000-bus national fleet. Officials say the fleet’s age is a major factor behind Algeria’s high rate of road accidents.

The announcement follows a bus crash in August that killed 18 people and injured dozens, highlighting the urgency of reform. Of the 10,000 buses ordered, 4,680 will replace vehicles over 30 years old, while 5,320 will renew the segment aged between 20 and 30 years.

The replacement program is being implemented alongside legislative reforms, including a revised Highway Code now under review. The new code aims to strengthen safety standards across the transport sector, from driving schools and licensing to vehicle inspection systems. According to official data, road accidents killed more than 2,500 people and injured nearly 20,000 in Algeria in 2024.

Henoc Dossa