🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Algerian man sentenced for terrorism apology, acquitted of membership in MAK movement
via Algérie3603 min read
A court in Dar El-Beïda has sentenced an individual to four years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dinars for the apology of terrorist acts via information and communication technologies. The accused was acquitted of belonging to a terrorist organization. The court also ordered the return of his Algerian and American passports. Security reports indicated close ties between the accused and the MAK terrorist movement, with several family members active in the organization. Investigations revealed the accused committed acts against state symbols and the nation, and made offensive remarks against the Muslim religion and the Prophet, including insulting publications and attacks on the Quran. He reportedly used multiple Facebook accounts to promote MAK, support its ideas, and relay its activities, leading to his inclusion on wanted lists. The accused denied any affiliation with MAK or its leader, Ferhat Mehenni, and denied links to the incriminated accounts. He stated he is a father, lived in the United States for seven years after leaving Algeria in 2007, and holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Tizi Ouzou. He worked in taxation at the American embassy and received computer programming training. He returned to Algeria on June 8, 2025, and was arrested at Houari Boumediene Airport. During interrogation, the judge presented technical evidence from a digital analysis of his phone, including inciting publications from pages he allegedly administered. The accused was
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Must ReadOn June 1, European Union member states, the Parliament, and the Commission approved new legislation on the expulsion of undocumented migrants. This text, supported by the right and far-right, allows for the detention of exiles for identity verification and the creation of detention centers outside EU borders. While some measures, such as strengthening Frontex, expulsions to third countries, or "return hubs," will be implemented immediately, the rest of the system will take effect within a year. This marks a new authoritarian turn in European migration policy, potentially at the expense of fundamental rights. Previously, externalizing detention centers outside the EU was largely impossible, except for a specific case with Albania due to a legal loophole. Italian far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had already initiated her own project with Tirana, though it faced judicial vetoes. Countries like Denmark, Austria, and Germany have expressed support for these "return hubs," with concrete plans discussed for centers in Rwanda, Uganda, or Uzbekistan. Unaccompanied minors are the only exception to this new framework. The legislation also mandates the systematic expulsion of all irregular foreign nationals. The period for voluntary departure can be reduced to 0-30 days, enabling immediate forced expulsions. European capitals gain broad authority to detain exiles, expanding detention grounds to include vague criteria such as flight risk, security threat, simple identity checks, o
Must ReadAlgeria has achieved the 12th position in the 2026 ranking of Africa's top-performing countries, published by Jeune Afrique magazine on June 2. With a total score of 40.39 points, Algeria moved up seven places from the previous edition, marking one of the most significant increases this year. The country scored 20.83 points in governance and 6.51 points in influence. This places Algeria ahead of Tunisia 13th with 40.17 points and Senegal 14th with 38.32 points, as well as Tanzania 15th, Seychelles 16th, Cape Verde 17th, Mauritania 18th, Ethiopia 19th, and Mozambique 20th. South Africa maintains its leading position with 63.13 points. Mauritius secured second place with 50.69 points, advancing four ranks, while Namibia made a notable jump of twelve places to claim third with 49.89 points. The top 10 also includes Morocco 4th with 48.92 points, Nigeria 5th with 48.17 points, Egypt 6th with 47.30 points, Rwanda 7th with 43.27 points, Ghana 8th with 42.77 points, Côte d'Ivoire 9th with 42.01 points, and Kenya 10th with 41.62 points. Jeune Afrique's methodology for this ranking evaluates governance 50% of the final score, influence 25%, and innovation 25%. It analyzes 24 distinct indicators over a macroeconomic period from 2022 to 2024, with updates extending to 2025.
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