Algerian president wants a sister city bond with KC. But does he mean Lawrence?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- He ordered officials to prepare a twinning agreement between Tipaza and Kansas City.
- The mayor’s office says Kansas City has not held official talks with Tipaza.
- Lawrence discussed a possible sister city link with Biskra and has not discussed Tipaza.
The Kansas City area is one step closer to achieving a sister city connection with Algeria, capitalizing on the romantic cultural connection forged during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But there may be some confusion about those connections stateside.
On Sunday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed his government to prepare a “twinning agreement” between the cities of Tipaza, Algeria and Kansas City. The decree, during a meeting of Algeria’s Council of Ministers, was made “in recognition of the warm welcome extended to the official delegation and Algerian fans during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in appreciation of the standing of Algerian-American relations.”
The wording of the agreement was a bit puzzling, since the Algerian national team held its base camp at the University of Kansas’ facilities in Lawrence — where the deepest connections were forged between the team and a local community.
Moreover, Kansas City had not discussed any sister city partnership arrangements with the Algerians, according to a statement from a spokesperson for Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas.
“Kansas City was proud to welcome the world this summer, including the Algerian national team, its official delegation, and its passionate supporters. We are honored that the experience left such a strong impression,” the statement reads.
“While the City has not yet been in official talks with Tipaza, we welcome the opportunity to connect and, in collaboration with the Kansas City Sister Cities Association, explore what a future relationship could look like.”
Sister Cities Lawrence, a nonprofit that helps coordinate such partnerships there, met last week to discuss the possibility of making Biskra, Algeria, a sister city. Lawrence currently has four sister cities: Eutin, Germany; Hiratsuka, Japan; Messolonghi/Iniades, Greece; and Tocopilla, Chile.
Like the spokesperson in KC, a Lawrence city spokesperson said Lawrence has not discussed a partnership of any kind with the city of Tipaza. The Star has yet to receive a response from the Algerian government.
Whether the partnership is with Kansas City or Lawrence, a relationship between the KC metro and Algeria is likely, thanks to the warmth that the Algerian national team received during its World Cup run — which included two games at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium.
“There has never been an opportunity for this sort of ... organic flowering that’s occurred, and they have been (Algerians) by it,” former U.S. Ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin said earlier this month.
“I think Algeria would like more of the United States, and the United States certainly would benefit from more of Algeria.”
