Algeria confronts terrorism by including MAK and Rachad movements on terrorist list

Amira Sherif

The Algerian presidency announced in a statement that the Supreme Council, whose meeting was chaired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, had decided to include the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (MAK) and the Islamist Rachad movement, which are active abroad, on the list of terrorist organizations and will deal with them as such.

The Algerian presidency accused the two movements in a previous statement, saying they “are active in Algeria and are run by Western capitals, activists and opponents of the authority by pushing for inciting actions and dangerous deviations in the country by taking advantage of the demonstrations of the popular movement.”

President Tebboune stressed that “the state will not tolerate these deviations that have nothing to do with democracy and human rights.” He also “gave orders for the immediate and strict implementation of the law and an end to these malignant activities and unprecedented abuses, especially towards state institutions and their symbols, which tries to obstruct the democratic and developmental path in Algeria.”

MAK demands the secession of the Kabylia region and claims a government in exile. When the popular demonstrations began two years ago in the county, MAK found a suitable opportunity to concentrate at the heart of the movement and the political scene in the country after years of undeclared activity.

As for the Rachad movement, it emerged during the demonstrations with a wave of slogans and has controversially focused on attacking the intelligence apparatus, describing it as terrorist, in addition to attacking the army, generals and President Tebboune.

The members of the two movements have been involved in supporting and financing terrorist acts in Algeria and other countries, as well as the formation of a terrorist group abroad.

Rachad was established abroad in 2007 and is based on the principle of bringing about comprehensive fundamental change in Algeria. It includes several Algerian opposition figures, most of whom belong to the Islamic Salvation Front, and its most prominent members are Mohamed Larbi Zitout and Mourad Dhina.

Meanwhile, MAK was established in 2010 in Paris as a movement seeking self-determination in the Kabylia region.

The security authorities in Algeria had previously warned that these organizations would infiltrate the popular movement by calling for harming state institutions and striking the concept of the nation state.