A regional seminar on managing documents and archives of local collectives in the digital age took place in Constantine, Algeria, on November 2, 2026. The event was organized by the National Archives Directorate under the Presidency of the Republic, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives. The seminar brought together officials, executives, and specialists from five eastern wilayas. The main objectives were to inventory existing archives, organize their conservation, and structure archive services.
The seminar, held at the National Institute for Training of Local Collective Personnel, focused on several key areas, including creating a national information network and protecting archives predating 1962. These archives represent a significant part of Algeria's administrative and historical memory. Participants sought to identify the best means to organize, conserve, and valorize these archives while supporting the digital transition of local administration. The opening ceremony was presided over by Wali Kamel Eddine Kerbouche, alongside Mohamed Bounaâma, Director General of National Archives.
In his opening address, Wali Kerbouche emphasized the need to modernize the document and archive management system, a crucial element in modernizing public administration and preserving institutional and historical memory. He called for improved conditions for conserving documentary funds, continued inventory and treatment operations, and reinforced specialized training. The Wali also stressed the importance of translating the seminar's conclusions into concrete recommendations and follow-up mechanisms.
Mohamed Bounaâma highlighted the historical and patrimonial significance of Constantine, which boasts an archival fund that testifies to its rich identity and history. He emphasized the need to document the present, preserve institutional memory, and develop mechanisms for conserving documents. Bounaâma presented the national project's main lines, which aim to inventory and valorize local collective archives and establish a national archival information network.
The project, a collaboration between the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Interior, seeks to develop mechanisms for conserving documents and strengthening human resources. This endeavor is part of a national approach to assess the state of archives at the local collective level, identify shortcomings, and determine the needs of concerned services. The seminar coincided with the 72nd anniversary of the start of Algeria's independence struggle on November 1, 1954.
The initiative includes a project to create a national cartography of local collective archives, providing a comprehensive vision of conserved funds, human and material resources, and their management. This project, planned for nine wilayas, is part of a series of regional meetings launched in September. Previous meetings have led to calls for the creation of a public establishment dedicated to managing wilaya and commune archives.
The seminar's outcomes and recommendations are expected to improve the functioning of local collectives and meet the requirements of digital transformation. Key stakeholders have emphasized the importance of protecting archives predating 1962 and developing specialized resources. The national cartography project aims to provide a clear understanding of Algeria's archival landscape and enhance the preservation of its historical and administrative memory.
Key points
- Algeria is moving towards creating a national cartography of local collectives' archives to preserve its historical and administrative memory.
- The project aims to inventory and valorize local collective archives, establish a national archival information network, and develop conservation mechanisms.
- The initiative seeks to support the digital transition of local administration and improve the management of archives predating 1962.
