• Visit date: March 11 2019
• The visited post office: ALGER-KHELIFA-BOUKHALFA
• Cost of sending mail: International 60 DZD (0,45 Eur)
• Postcard availability:  We found postcards in bookstores, kiosks, as well as souvenir shops
• Postcard Delivery Times: Fastest France-14 days (USA -31 days)

Algeria (officially the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria) is a country located in North Africa. It is bordered by seven countries: Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world by area and the largest country in Africa. Algeria gained independence from France in 1962 after a long war of liberation. Its official languages are Arabic and Berber (Amazigh), with Arabic being the national language; French is widely used in both business and administration. The official state religion is Islam, but the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Country’s economy is largely dependent on oil and gas. 

The history of postal services in Algeria extends far back, though organized systems developed later. While the website of Algérie Poste on its homepage claims world postal services existed as far back as 255 BC, this likely refers to early forms of message delivery, not a formal network. The earliest known letters from Algeria date to around 1690, with the first postal markings from 1749. By 1880, French colonial rule had established 295 post offices. The first “Algerian stamps” were French stamps overprinted with “Algérie”. Independence on July 2, 1962, brought about new stamps: initially, French stamps overprinted with “EA” (État Algérien, State of Algeria) in a variety of colors and typefaces were used until October 31, 1962. The next day, a set of five designs depicting local scenes and inscribed “REPUBLIQUE ALGERIENNE” in both French and Arabic were introduced. The current postal system, known as Algérie-Poste, was established in 2002, and provides both mail and financial services.

Sources: Algeria, Grande_Poste, Historique

Our Experience on Algerian Post

Stepping off the plane in Algeria, we weren’t entirely sure we’d be allowed to enter the country. The airport security flagged the zoom lens on my Sony camera, and we were immediately grilled with questions – were we journalists? Finally, a specialist arrived who declared the lens completely harmless; ironically, I’d forgotten the actual camera itself! But just like that, we were in a nation that had been experiencing significant unrest. President Bouteflika was seeking a fifth term, despite his notable absence from the public eye. Many suspected he was merely a figurehead, allowing the government to make decisions that suited them.

The capital city, Algiers, surprised us with its pleasant, French-city vibe. Cafes were buzzing with locals, and the aroma of fresh coffee and pastries hung in the air. Our mission, naturally, centered around post offices. Postcards were surprisingly easy to find, sold in souvenir shops, bookstores, and even the small kiosks scattered throughout the city.

Looking at the goods those kiosks offered, you might have thought a major football match was coming up – flags, scarves, and T-shirts emblazoned with local symbols. But the situation was far more serious. As I mentioned earlier, recent elections had sparked major unrest as locals didn’t believe Bouteflika’s candidacy was legitimate. People were flooding the streets, demanding a leader who truly represented the country. Though our travel agency had warned us against going out in case of trouble, we quickly realized that the protests were directed at the government, not tourists. In fact, many locals greeted us warmly, welcoming us and thanking us for our silent support.

But, returning to our mission of sending postcards, in Algiers, the grand main post office, known as Grande Poste, is a stunning building completed in 1911 by architects Jules Voinot and Denis Marius Toudoire and opened in 1913. In 2015, the building was converted into a museum dedicated to postal history and telecommunications. Sadly, due to poor planning, we only managed to admire it from the outside. Instead, we visited a smaller, more modest post office much closer to our hotel. It wasn’t nearly as impressive, but we did manage to send off our postcards.

Our postcards successfully posted it was soon time to leave Algeria. For those curious about the protests, they continued for weeks. Bouteflika finally resigned on April 2nd, 2019. This mass movement also significantly increased civic engagement. Citizens continue to demand more substantial political reforms, including the elimination of corruption, a more democratic system, and greater government transparency.

As you might guess, Algeria has carved out a special place in our minds, and we continue to follow their journey towards democracy. Maybe one day we’ll return and finally get to explore the grand, historic postal museum, Grande Poste.

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