Algeria’s opposition movements labelled as terrorist groups

Amidst preparations for the upcoming elections, Algerian authorities have classified separatist group MAK and another opposition movement as terrorist organizations. The MAK, or the Mouvement pour l’autodétermination de la Kabyile, was established in August 2013. Kabyle is a cultural and historical region in northern Algeria and MAK aims at splitting it from the rest of the country. On its website, the group is described as a “rallying of dynamic forcs in Kabylia who want to advocate in favour of the Kabyle people’s right to self-determination”. The group specifies that MAK is not a political party but rather an organization transcending all political divides and aiming only at realizing the Kabyle people’s right to build a democratic, social and secular state. The group has established a provisional government for their region, the Gouvernement provisoire Kabyle, or GPK. The MAK aims to bring their situation before international institutions in order to fight for the right of the Kabyle people whilst furthering civil disobedience and reject elections until a referendum for the self-determination of Kabylia is organized.

A few weeks before the elections, the High Council for National Security has now declared the MAK and the Rachad opposition  as illegal and terrorist organizations. In April 2021, the MAK was accused by Algerian authorities of planning attacks during the anti-government protests in Algiers. Changes in the Algerian legal provision mean that members of these groups will now be convicted under a new law, punishing any Algerian joining an organization that could damage the interests of the country.