The detention of Saâd Bouakba, one of Algeria’s most respected journalists, marks a new chapter in the country’s escalating campaign against independent voices.
Bouakba, 79, was placed in pre-trial detention on Nov 27, after being accused of defamation and “insulting historical symbols of the state,” which he denied.
The charges have been described as bogus by regime critics. They stem from comments made during a YouTube program aired by Vision TV, where Bouakba referenced historical allegations of misappropriated FLN funds during Algeria’s independence struggle, citing a decades-old book by French author François Dumont.
Bouakba’s hearing is scheduled for December 5.
This case underscores what observers describe as Algeria’s systematic crackdown on journalists and free speech.
Algeria has been notorious for similar prosecutions, including the jailing of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi and the forced closure of independent outlets such as Radio M. These actions reflect a tightening grip on media freedoms since the Hirak protest movement.
International watchdogs have repeatedly sounded the alarm. Amnesty International notes that Algerian authorities have prosecuted dozens of activists and journalists under vague laws criminalizing peaceful expression, often through expedited trials. Human Rights Watch, in its latest report, highlights the use of anti-terrorism and cybercrime legislation to silence critics, warning of a “shrinking civic space” in Algeria.
\Bouakba’s detention adds to growing concerns about the regime’s intolerance of alternative narratives and its reliance on judicial measures to stifle debate. With his trial set for early December, rights groups are calling for his immediate release and urging Algeria to uphold its international obligations on freedom of expression.
