Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie

Movement for Self-Determination of Kabylie
  • French: Mouvement pour l’autodétermination de la Kabylie
  • Kabyle: Amussu i ufraniman n tmurt n iqbayliyen
AbbreviationMAK
LeaderFerhat Mehenni
Founded30 June 2001
HeadquartersParis, France
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[8]
Colors  Blue
  Red
  Yellow
Designated as a terrorist group by Algeria[9]
Party flag
Website
https://afraniman.org

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.[9] In December 2025, MAK symbolically proclaimed Kabyle independence in a ceremony in France.[10]

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.[9] 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.[11]

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.[12] On August 26, 2021, Algeria issued an international arrest warrant for Ferhat Mehenni.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

On 14 December 2025, MAK symbolically proclaimed the independence of Kabylia from Paris, France.[16]

Ideological rhetoric

Anti-Arab racism

MAK has been widely reported to exhibit anti-Arab sentiment.[2][4][5][6][7] Its views have also been described as nativist and populist demagoguery, wherien they oppose "colonial Arabo-Islamism" in North Africa as indigenous people distinct from Arab Algerians.[17] Senior MAK figures such as Bouaziz Ait Chebib have described their struggle as being against what they see as an "Arab-Islamic yoke" imposed on Kabylia.[18] Sources note that MAK members have chanted racist slogans calling for the "departure of the Arabs from Kabylia."[19]

Algerian authorities have completely suspended the activities of MAK in Algeria, accusing it of being a "separatist and racist movement" against Arabs, especially since the issue of Kabylia is a matter of unity and ethnocultural diversity.[20] During the 2024 trial of 24 MAK members, the Algerian judiciary charged the group with "spreading ideas that encourage division, discrimination, and hatred."[21]

French journalist Slimane Zeghidour noted that MAK is consolidating itself on foundations that are "openly anti-Arab, anti-Islamist, and pro-Israeli, including during the Gaza war."[3] Amar Inegrachen characterized MAK as a fascist and far-right movement that goes as far as invoking "fascist and racist discourse" and "racial terminology" and evoking "Kabyle blood." He also noted that MAK did not simply develop separatist and racist rhetoric, but its supporters "transformed themselves into a veritable political militia" who stigmatize opponents of their ideals as "traitors."[8] According to Abdennour Toumi, Algerians, including a large majority of Algerian Berbers, see MAK leaders as racists and fanatics.[22]

Pro-Israel

MAK leader Ferhat Mehenni has long been an outspoken supporter of Israel, drawing comparisons between his own cause and the Zionist cause.[23] He made a visit to Israel in 2012, meeting Likud hardliners such as Danny Danon, and took part in a pro-Israel demonstration in Paris in October 2023 amid the Gaza war. The relation has been described as consistent with Israel's periphery doctrine.[24]

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".[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Algeria arrests members of MAK separatist group after attacks". Reuters. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Sidi Mohand, Khaled (11 December 2023). "From Algeria to France, Berbers have always supported Palestinian liberation". The New Arab. Retrieved 24 September 2024. This comes after two decades of Mehenni claiming to be a spokesperson for the largest Berber (Amazigh) ethnic group in Algeria, as founder and leader of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK). During these years he not only platformed himself president of a state that most Kabyles don't seek, but he has also used this to preach anti-Arab views.
  3. ^ a b c "Algérie: pourquoi le MAK est cité après la condamnation d'un journaliste français pour "apologie du terrorisme"". TV5MONDE - Informations (in French). 2025-07-01. Archived from the original on 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-11-19. Le mouvement se consolide donc sur des fondements "ouvertement anti-arabe, anti-islamiste et pro-israéliens, y compris lors de la guerre de Gaza", souligne Slimane Zeghidour. "Le mouvement pour l'autodétermination de la Kabylie incarne une volonté de rupture" dans une Algérie marquée par l'autoritarisme et les crises identitaires
  4. ^ a b "Le mouvement kabyle MAK dénonce l' «obsession» d'Alger à le qualifier de «terroriste»". Arab News FR (in French). 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2025-11-19. Né dans le sillage du « Printemps kabyle » de 2001, le MAK est accusé par les autorités algériennes d'avoir des visées « séparatistes » et de racisme anti-arabe.
  5. ^ a b "Un opposant kabyle recherché par l'Algérie pour « terrorisme » en rétention judiciaire à Paris". Le Monde (in French). 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2025-11-19. M. Bellabbaci, âgé de 41 ans, est le bras droit de Ferhat Mehheni, le président du MAK. Ce mouvement né dans le sillage du « printemps kabyle », en 2001, est accusé par les autorités algériennes de racisme antiarabe et d'avoir des visées « séparatistes ». Il ne s'est pas rendu en Algérie depuis août 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Algérie: le mouvement kabyle MAK réfute tout projet d'attentat". Le Figaro (in French). 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2025-11-19. Basé à Paris, ce mouvement, illégal en Algérie, né dans le sillage du «Printemps kabyle» de 2001, est une des bêtes noires du régime qui l'accuse de visées «séparatistes» et de racisme anti-arabe. La Kabylie est une région berbérophone du nord-est de l'Algérie traditionnellement frondeuse vis-à-vis d'un Etat très centralisé. Elle est un des fiefs du Hirak.
  7. ^ a b Bentaleb, Ayline (2023-10-13). "En Algérie, la position de Ferhat Mehenni sur le conflit Israël-Hamas ne passe pas". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-19. En mai 2021, les autorités algériennes ont classé le MAK, désormais basé à Paris, comme « organisation terroriste ». Né dans le sillage du « printemps berbère » de 2001, le MAK est accusé par Alger d'avoir des visées « séparatistes » et de se faire le porte-voix du « racisme anti-arabe ».
  8. ^ a b "MAK : les langues commencent à se délier". TSA (in French). 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2025-11-22. Le MAK n'est que l'arbre qui dévoile la jungle des extrémismes que l'Algérie tend à devenir », écrit Amar Inegrachen qui juge « absolument nécessaire de combattre l'extrême-droite kabyle représentée par le MAK et les autres mouvements souverainistes, mais il faut aussi combattre l'extrême-droite arabo-islamique...
  9. ^ a b c "Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Algeria". U.S. Department of State – Home. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  10. ^ Dakar (Senegal), APA- (2025-12-15). "Kabyle Movement unilaterally proclaims independence in Paris". APAnews - African Press Agency. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "49 people sentenced to death for mob killing in Algeria". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2022-11-25. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  13. ^ L’Algérie lance un mandat d’arrêt contre le chef du MAK, Ferhat Mehenni
  14. ^ "Algeria thwarts armed attack plot that had Israeli support". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  15. ^ El Atti, Basma (15 August 2024). "Algeria claims 'terror plot' by separatist Amazigh group MAK and 'foreign intelligence services'". The New Arab.
  16. ^ "La Kabylie proclame son indépendance en France" (in French). Kabyle.com. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  17. ^ "Between Nativism and Indigeneity in the Kabyle Diaspora of France". Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  18. ^ "Autonomy movement – DW – 07/16/2012". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  19. ^ "Grave dérive raciste des éléments du MAK lors de la célébration du 20 Avril - algerie patriotique - Journal d'actualité Algérie Internationale" (in French). 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  20. ^ "ما هي حركة استقلال منطقة القبائل التي تثير توتراً دبلوماسياً بين الجزائر والمغرب؟". euronews (in Arabic). 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  21. ^ Basma El Atti ــ Rabat. "Algeria launches trial against separatist Amazigh group MAK". The New Arab. Archived from the original on 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  22. ^ HAMARAD.COM. "Algerian Berber Separatist Movement: Threat to National Unity and Territory Integrity". Orsam. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  23. ^ "Algeria's Kabylie craves friendship with Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 2012-05-27. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  24. ^ Mohand, Khaled Sid. "Algerian Berbers have always supported Palestinian freedom". The New Arab. Archived from the original on 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  25. ^ "Soutien financier secret du Maroc à Ferhat mehenni". Djazairess. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Self-Determination_of_Kabylia