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Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie

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Movement for Self-Determination of Kabylie
  • French: Mouvement pour l’autodétermination de la Kabylie
  • Kabyle: Amussu i ufraniman n tmurt n iqbayliyen
LeaderFerhat Mehenni
Founded30 June 2001
HeadquartersParis, France
Ideology
Colors  Blue
  Red
  Yellow
Designated as a terrorist group by Algeria[5]
Party flag

The Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK; French: Mouvement pour l’autodétermination de la Kabylie), formerly the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (French: Mouvement pour l'autonomie de la Kabylie), is a Kabyle nationalist and separatist political organization seeking the independence of the Kabylia region from Algeria. It was founded by the Kabyle Berberist Ferhat Mehenni, now president of the Provisional Government of Kabylie in exile, after the "Black Spring" disturbances in 2001. It is designated a terrorist organization by Algeria.[6]

Terrorist activities

Since 2021, the MAK has been classified as a terrorist organization in Algeria after claims from the Algerian authorities saying that MAK members were planting car bombs.[6] The founder of MAK, Mehenni, was arrested by the French authorities and placed in police custody in 2021 as part of an investigation into organised money laundering in relation to sports betting.[7]

Algerian authorities accused MAK of ordering the widespread 2021 Algeria wildfires in the region of Kabylia. Five members of MAK were convicted in absentia for involvement in the murder of Djamel Ben Ismail on August 11, 2021. Among the members was the organization's leader, Ferhat Mehenni.[8] On August 26, 2021, Algeria issued an international arrest warrant for Ferhat Mehenni.[9]

In October 2021, Algerian authorities claimed to have thwarted a plot by MAK to carry out armed attacks in Algeria, allegedly planned by Israel and "a country in North Africa." 17 suspects were arrested as they were preparing the attacks.[10]

In August 2024, Algeria reportedly foiled a terrorist plot allegedly linked to the MAK. The plan involved smuggling firearms to Algeria via Béjaïa from Marseille, France, ahead of the 2024 Algerian presidential election. Authorities arrested 21 individuals and seized 46 firearms, along with ammunition, foreign currency, and GPS devices.[11]

Foreign funding

In 2011, a close associate of Ferhat Mehenni and a former senior member of the organisation, Idir Djouder, accused the MAK of receiving funds from Morocco (250,000 euros per month) and criticised its management methods. Idir Djouder uses the term "dictator", he describes his "government" and the content of the meetings as formal with decisions taken "elsewhere".[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Algeria arrests members of MAK separatist group after attacks". Reuters. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ Sidi Mohand, Khaled (11 December 2023). "From Algeria to France, Berbers have always supported Palestinian liberation". The New Arab. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ Sidi Mohand, Khaled (11 December 2023). "From Algeria to France, Berbers have always supported Palestinian liberation". The New Arab. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Algeria's Kabylie craves friendship with Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  5. ^ "Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Algeria". U.S. Department of State – Home. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Algeria". U.S. Department of State – Home. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Algérie : pourquoi Ferhat Mehenni, chef du MAK, a été entendu par la police française – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  8. ^ "49 people sentenced to death for mob killing in Algeria". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2022-11-25. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  9. ^ L’Algérie lance un mandat d’arrêt contre le chef du MAK, Ferhat Mehenni
  10. ^ "Algeria thwarts armed attack plot that had Israeli support". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  11. ^ El Atti, Basma (15 August 2024). "Algeria claims 'terror plot' by separatist Amazigh group MAK and 'foreign intelligence services'". The New Arab.
  12. ^ "Soutien financier secret du Maroc à Ferhat mehenni". Djazairess. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
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