Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially opened The Great Mosque of Algiers on Sunday, marking a historic moment as the largest mosque in Africa and the third-largest globally.
The monumental structure, also known as Djamaa el Djazaïr, stands tall in Algiers, boasting the world’s tallest minaret and covering an expansive 70 acres, accommodating up to 120,000 worshippers simultaneously.
Constructed over seven years at a staggering cost of more than $800 million, the Great Mosque of Algiers is a symbol of architectural grandeur and religious significance.
The world-class facility includes the towering minaret, a distinctive feature used for projecting the Muslim call to prayer.
The Great Mosque of Algiers holds particular importance as it was a project initiated by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
While officially inaugurated by President Tebboune ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the mosque has been accessible to international tourists and state visitors for approximately five years. It first opened for prayers in October 2020, with Tebboune absent due to COVID-19.
Despite becoming Africa’s largest mosque, the project faced years of delays, cost overruns, and allegations of being situated in a seismically risky area, which the government denies.
Critics argue that the mosque, along with a major national highway and housing units, was a vanity project for former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Bouteflika stepped down in 2019 amid widespread protests following his bid for a fifth term.
The inauguration of the mosque coincides with the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and it is poised to become a focal point for prayers and community gatherings during this sacred period.
