Maghreb Edition

Algeria wants to jail right activist Zaki Hannache over bogus charge of “apology for terrorism”F

Posted On 25 February 2022

Number of times this article was read : 641

An Algerian court on Thursday charged rights activist Zaki Hannache of “praising terrorism” and spreading “false news” and remanded him into custody, a rights group said.  Hannache, 32, was a prominent figure in the Hirak mass protest movement which forced veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office in 2019, and he had continued to use social media to speak out for Hirak activists in detention.

The CNLD prisoners’ rights group said the authorities had detained him on February 18, raiding his house and confiscating his phone. He was charged on Thursday on the orders of a judge in the capital Algiers, it said. The group added that Hannache was facing charges of “apology for terrorism, attacking national integrity and unity, and publishing false news”.

His arrest comes two days after the third anniversary of the Hirak, which had been sparked by Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term in office. The 82-year-old quit on April 2, 2019 after two decades in power and died last September. More than 300 people are currently in detention in Algeria over links to the Hirak or rights activism, the CNLD says.

AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply$

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa$

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.