Overview

• Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially inaugurated the Grand Mosque of Algiers, featuring the world's tallest minaret and capable of accommodating 120,000 worshippers.
• The mosque, costing close to $900m and constructed by a Chinese firm, faced years of delays and cost overruns, sparking criticism.
• Critics argue the mosque, named after ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was a vanity project amid concerns over its location in a seismically risky area.
• The mosque's opening ahead of Ramadan allows it to host public prayers and events, despite being ceremonially open to tourists and state visitors for about five years.
• Allegations of corruption and misuse of funds have marred the project, initially intended as a legacy by Bouteflika, who was forced to resign in 2019 after protests.