The vehicle market in Tidjelabine, a town 2 km from Boumerdès, has been temporarily closed by the local authorities. The decision to shut down the market was made by the town's mayor, Belkacem Guessoum, who cited the failure of nine consecutive bidding processes for the market's concession. The market, which has been managed by the local APC since March 2018, reportedly generated 4 billion Algerian dinars per month.
According to Mayor Guessoum, the administration's requirement for a 16 billion Algerian dinar price for the concession has deterred potential investors. The mayor claims that despite the market's importance for the local community, the wilaya's services have refused to accept a lower bid of 12 billion Algerian dinars. This has led to a stalemate, with the mayor accusing the administration of "surenchère," or overbidding, and "dilapidation of public funds."
The conflict between the APC and the wilaya dates back several months, with disagreements over the number of bidding processes launched. The APC claims to have launched nine bids, while the wilaya's services acknowledge only two. The dispute has been ongoing since the tenure of former Wali Mohamed Salmani, who had sought to eradicate nearly 3000 unauthorized constructions in the area.
Mayor Guessoum revealed that a meeting was held with local citizens, investors, and administrative services to resolve the issue. The meeting resulted in an offer of 12 billion Algerian dinars for the concession, but the wilaya's services rejected it, insisting on the higher price set by the Domaines. The mayor expressed concerns about the wilaya's refusal to accept the lower bid, questioning the reasoning behind it.
The closure of the market has also been attributed to security concerns, with the mayor citing the risk to workers' lives and instances of aggression against commune agents. The market's shutdown has affected the local community, with the mayor emphasizing the importance of reopening the market to alleviate unemployment in the region.
A new project to develop the market has been awarded to a company for 12 billion Algerian dinars, with work set to begin in August. Once renovated, the market will operate three times a week and will be expanded to include other activities, aiming to revitalize commercial activity in the commune and the wider wilaya.
The mayor remains committed to finding a solution to the dispute and reopening the market. The local community is eagerly awaiting the market's reopening, which is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy. The situation highlights the complexities of administrative decision-making in Algeria and the challenges faced by local authorities in managing public assets.
Key points
- The Tidjelabine vehicle market was closed due to a dispute over the concession price and security concerns.
- The market generated 4 billion Algerian dinars per month under the management of the local APC.
- A new development project worth 12 billion Algerian dinars has been awarded to renovate the market.
