2,000 dinar banknotes have no English instead of French

Further proof of the distance between Algeria And France? This Wednesday, many Internet users echoed a change, minimal at first glance, but very symbolic in the relations between the two countries, especially since then. Voyage of the French Delegation On site in early October.

The new Algerian dinar banknotes are no longer denominated in French. The latter may even be replaced by notes in English. Jean-Luc Mélenchon He tweeted about it on Wednesday President of the Republic And the Prime Minister: “The common language is no longer common. sadness Macron Bourne failed at everything and everything. The message is accompanied by a close-up of a 2,000 dinar note with the words “two thousand dinars” written on it.

Besides, if English is on the new banknotes in Algeria, Internet users and the leader Rebellion France Running late. 20 minutes Make the point.

Fake off

On November 2, the Bank of Algeria issued a new 2,000 dinar note and a new 50 dinar metal coin with Arabic and English wording. Official Journal of October 23.

The theme of the 2,000 dinar note is the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence and the 31st Arab League summit to be held in Algiers on November 1, 2022, which is represented by a map of the Arab world, explains economist and co-researcher Fatiha Talahid. CNRS. The 50 dinar coin features the image of Hasiba Benbouli, a martyr of the revolution. It has three Hijri, Gregorian and Amazigh vintages of the mint year. »

Arabic replaced French in the 1970s

After 1964, when the Algerian currency came into force, banknotes of nominal value were written in French. “When it was called the Central Bank of Algeria (PCA), some banknotes had its name written in French,” says Fatiha Talahid. A remnant of colonialism as French “is not an official language in Algeria, so its existence is not justified”.

But from the mid-1970s, Arabic was completely replaced by French. Denominations written in French were able to pass from hand to hand for some time, and according to researchers, banknotes in circulation in Algeria were written only in Arabic. 1990 Reform and new status of the central bank, which became the Bank of Algeria. This is until Wednesday, November 2.

Promote English language

The confusion appears to have started with an article by the Turkish agency Anadolu, titled “Algeria: English instead of French on new 2,000 DA banknote,” which stated that “instead of ‘two thousand dinars’ seen on old banknotes, the new banknote says “two thousand dinars” in English. Many foreign The idea quickly found its way, picked up by the media Social websites.

The choice to use English in the new sections was not justified by the Algerian authorities. Contacted by 20 minutes, the Bank of Algeria and the Algerian Embassy in France have not yet responded to our requests. According to Fatiha Talahite, this decision “is in line with the desire of the country’s authorities to promote the teaching and use of this language, which was introduced this year in primary education.