A tragic workplace incident at Algeria’s national oil company, Sonatrach, has shocked employees and the wider industrial community. On Sunday, a department manager was fatally attacked by a colleague at the company’s offices in Laghouat, highlighting concerns over internal tensions and workplace safety.
According to Algérie360, the confrontation began as a verbal disagreement between the department manager and an employee in the payroll section.
The argument quickly escalated, culminating in the attacker using a sharp object to fatally injure the manager.
“Security guards immediately intervened to neutralize the suspect, who was attempting to flee,” the report noted. Law enforcement officers took the individual into custody, while the victim’s body was transferred to the city morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Sonatrach, founded in 1963, is a cornerstone of Algeria’s energy sector, overseeing the extraction, processing, and transport of hydrocarbons.
Its facilities in Laghouat provide substantial employment opportunities and contribute significantly to the local economy, making the incident not only a personal tragedy but also a moment of concern for the company and the community.
Labor law specialists emphasize that the attack underscores the importance of robust conflict management and safety protocols in the workplace.
“This type of incident highlights the need for preventive measures to protect staff and manage professional disputes before they escalate,” experts said.
The tragedy may prompt authorities and company management to review and strengthen security and conflict resolution procedures at sensitive industrial sites. Reports and analyses are expected in the coming days to determine how such internal conflicts can be mitigated in the future.
For Sonatrach, already central to Algeria’s hydrocarbon economy, the incident is a stark reminder of the human and operational risks present in high-pressure industrial environments. Ensuring safety, alongside the company’s economic responsibilities, will likely become a renewed priority in the aftermath of this fatal attack.
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