CHAN 2023: Algerian Security Investigates Suspicious Deals

The Economic Police Brigade of Algiers State Security opened in-depth investigations into a corruption case related to deals concluded during the organization of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria in 2023.

Information obtained by Echorouk indicates that the Economic Police Brigade took action based on a detailed report that reached its services regarding the existence of violations and breaches, especially in the section related to concluding deals with several parties that participated in organizing the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria. However, after examining and investigating the contracts concluded, it was found that they violated the laws in force.

According to Echorouk sources, the deals related to the opening and closing ceremonies of the event held at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, in the Algerian capital, as the state allocated huge logistical capabilities to make the CHAN a unique and unprecedented event, with the consensus of CAF officials and the participating teams.

In addition to the deals related to the opening and closing ceremonies of the CHAN, the economic police services also investigated the catering, accommodation, transportation and equipment deals, where they reached suspicion of the involvement of several officials, headed by the former president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), who is being prosecuted in other corruption cases at the level of the third chamber of the Qidi M’hamed economic and financial penal pole, in addition to several members of the organizing committee, managers and owners of companies and other legal and natural persons as well.

The file is currently, according to Echorouk sources, at the level of the competent regional public prosecutor’s office, and given the seriousness of the facts related to the squandering of billions of dinars allocated by the Algerian state to make this global event “CHAN” a success by concluding deals that violate the legislation in force, it is likely that the file will be dropped in favour of the National Economic and Financial Penal Pole in Sidi M’hamed, as it is the competent court in such cases.

Previously Algeria organized the seventh edition of “CHAN 2022” instead of “CHAN 2023”, as the tournament was scheduled to be held in 2022, but was postponed due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.