ALGIERS Sept 2 – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has appointed central bank governor Mohamed Lamine Lebbou as finance minister in a partial cabinet reshuffle, moving the monetary official into one of the government’s most important economic positions.
The presidency announced the changes on Tuesday, naming Lebbou to replace the outgoing finance minister while also appointing new ministers to oversee labour, agriculture and communications.
Hattab Mohamed was appointed minister of labour, employment and social security, while Said Ali Khaldi will take charge of agriculture. Mohamed Bouslimani was appointed communications minister, according to a presidential statement.
Lebbou’s transfer to the finance ministry comes only a few months after Tebboune appointed him governor of Algeria’s central bank in February. He succeeded Salah Eddine Taleb in that role.
The rapid move from the central bank to the finance ministry places Lebbou at the centre of Algeria’s economic policy at a time when coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities remains important for managing public finances, economic growth and price stability.
However, the presidential announcement did not identify a successor for Lebbou as governor of the central bank. The absence of an immediate replacement leaves the future leadership of Algeria’s monetary authority unclear following the reshuffle.
The appointment also creates a change in the balance of responsibilities across Algeria’s economic policymaking institutions, with Lebbou moving from overseeing monetary policy to a position responsible for the government’s fiscal and financial affairs.
Further details on the government’s economic priorities under the new finance minister were not provided in the presidential statement.
