The camaraderie between Lawrence and Team Algeria may not end with the World Cup.
Members of Sister Cities Lawrence met Wednesday evening at the Watkins Museum of History to discuss the possibility of making Biskra, Algeria, a sister city.
The proposal grew out of Lawrence’s hospitality toward the Algerian team during World Cup-related events this summer.
Members of the board were joined by Saadi ElMehdi Zemmouri, from Sacramento, California, and his father Noureddine Zemmouri, an architecture professor at the University of Biskra.
Saadi ElMehdi Zemmour first sent a letter of interest to the city during World Cup celebrations, writing that he hoped to explore a civic, educational and cultural bridge between Lawrence and Biskra.
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He said the effort should become more than “just a moment that has passed during the World Cup.”
Lawrence currently has four sister cities: Eutin, Germany; Hiratsuka, Japan; Messolonghi / Iniades, Greece; and Tocopilla, Chile.
Kelly Scholz, vice-chair and treasurer of Sister Cities Lawrence, said the group does not take new sister city relationships lightly and wants any future partnership to be long lasting and fruitful.
Bob Schumm, president of Friends of Messolongi, said the most important part of the process is finding reliable people who will stay committed to the program for years to come, not just for the initial burst of interest. He said sustained partnerships depend on volunteers willing to keep working and building the relationship over time.
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Lawrence’s earlier sister city connections began through university ties before expanding to the broader community, which could be a similar path for them to follow with Biskra.
Joe Potts, associate vice provost for strategic partnership and innovation at KU International Affairs, was in attendance. Potts said the university could explore a general umbrella agreement or statement of intent before moving toward a more formal partnership. Faculty interest would be needed as part of that process.
Potts and Noureddine Zemmouri also discussed possible areas of collaboration between the universities including arid-region agriculture, aquifer and water resource management, oasis urbanism and sustainable architecture.
Schumm also emphasized to Noureddine and Saadi that student exchanges, homestays and reliable families and volunteers would be key to making the relationship work.
Scholz said the Algerian team’s visit left a strong impression on her and others who took part in the summer events.
“It has made me very proud of my hometown to welcome your team, and we’re just excited that you picked us, and I’m glad that everyone has had such a positive experience,” Scholz said.
Mayor Brad Finkeldei said he had also interacted with the Algerian ambassador to the United States and a former U.S. ambassador to Algeria, both of whom expressed interest in strengthening ties between the two countries.
The idea remains in an early stage, and no formal agreement has been proposed. For now, the group’s next step is to build a committed Friends of Biskra group in Lawrence and continue exploring whether Biskra could become a future partner.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
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