Algeria has unveiled the world’s third-largest mosque and Africa’s largest, which faced delays for years amid political changes, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially opened the Grand Mosque of Algiers on Monday, situated along the nation’s Mediterranean coast.
Known locally as Djamaa El-Djazair, the mosque boasts the world’s tallest minaret, standing at 265 meters (869 feet), and can accommodate 120,000 worshippers.
Spanning 27.75 hectares (nearly 70 acres), the modernist structure is adorned with wood and marble, featuring Arab and North African influences.
It includes amenities such as a helicopter landing pad and a library capable of holding up to one million books.
Although the mosque’s grand opening coincides with Ramadan, it has been accessible to international tourists and state visitors for approximately five years.
It commenced prayers in October 2020, albeit without Tebboune due to his battle with COVID-19.
The construction, carried out by a Chinese firm, reportedly cost close to $900 million. Despite now having the largest mosque outside of Islam’s holiest sites, the project faced numerous setbacks, including delays, budget overruns, and criticism over its location’s seismic risk.
However, the government refuted these claims.
Critics argue that the mosque served as a vanity project for former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in 2019 after two decades in power.
Named after him, the mosque was initially planned for inauguration in February 2019 but faced postponements.
Suspicions of corruption surrounded the project during Bouteflika’s tenure, including allegations of kickbacks to state officials by contractors.
Source-Aljazeera
