Etablissement public de radiodiffusion sonore (EPRS)
Radio Algérienne, known formally as EPRS, is Algeria’s public radio broadcaster. Its origins date back to 1962 under the RTA, and in 1986 it became an independent entity. Since 1991, per decree no. 91‑102, it has operated as a public establishment with industrial and commercial status. Today, it runs six national stations (in Arabic, Tamazight, French, religious and cultural formats), an international service, and over 40 regional affiliates—broadcasting across multiple languages and reaching an estimated 20 million listeners.
Media assets
National: Chaine 1, Chaine 2, Chaine 3, Radio Coran, Radio Culture, Jil FM
International: Radio International
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Structure: Governed by a 13-member Administration Council—four appointed by ministries, three from its main radio channels, representatives from APS (state news agency), journalists, and other stakeholders. The Council Chair is the Director General, appointed via presidential decree; the EPRS answers to the Ministry of Communication
Leadership update: In September 2024, Adel Salakdji assumed the role of Director General, succeeding Mohamed Baghali (who took over in January 2021). This change continues the broadcaster’s pattern of politically sensitive leadership shifts.
Source of funding and budget
Radio Algérienne (EPRS) continues to operate largely on the back of substantial state support. Public funding remains the cornerstone of its financial structure, with over 85% of its annual budget drawn directly from the national treasury. Advertising revenue provides a secondary income stream, but it is modest in scale and tightly regulated.
In 2021, the broadcaster received DZD 5 billion—approximately US$ 37.4 million—in direct subsidies from the Ministry of Communication. This level of support was reaffirmed in 2022, when the Algerian government unveiled a sweeping €120 million strategic communications program aimed at bolstering pro-government messaging across the media sector. Of that package, around €32 million was earmarked for Radio Algérienne, reinforcing its role as a primary vehicle for state discourse.
As of 2024–2025, although no updated financial reports have been published by EPRS itself, it is widely understood—based on Algeria’s ballooning national budget—that public broadcasters like EPRS remain generously funded.
Editorial independence
Despite its formal designation as a public broadcaster, Radio Algérienne (EPRS) operates squarely within the grip of state power. The Ministry of Communication exerts pervasive influence over editorial content, leaving little room for independent journalism or dissenting perspectives. While the broadcaster’s founding decree outlines general principles for programming, it includes no legal guarantees of editorial autonomy—nor has any independent oversight body been established to safeguard journalistic integrity.
Interviews with local journalists and media observers carried out for this report paint a consistent picture: censorship is routine, and editorial lines are dictated by government priorities. Program schedules, coverage angles, and even the tone of broadcasts are often shaped in consultation with ministry officials. In such an environment, self-censorship becomes second nature—journalists, aware of the professional risks, often choose silence or resignation over confrontation.
Over the past year, Algeria’s broader media landscape has seen renewed tightening of state control, and Radio Algérienne is no exception. The appointment of directors general continues to be a politically sensitive affair, with rapid turnover and little transparency. In this context, EPRS does not act as a platform for public debate, but rather as a loudspeaker for the state, amplifying official narratives while sidelining uncomfortable truths. Journalists who attempt to push editorial boundaries often find themselves marginalized or forced out altogether. As of mid-2025, no legal reforms or regulatory frameworks have been introduced to loosen this grip.
July 2025