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Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia

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Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia
  • French: Mouvement pour l’autodétermination de la Kabylie
  • Kabyle: Amussu i ufraniman n tmurt n iqbayliyen
AbbreviationMAK
LeaderFerhat Mehenni
FounderFerhat Mehenni
Founded30 June 2001; 25 years ago (2001-06-30)
Banned Algeria[1]
Succeeded byURK
HeadquartersParis, France
Ideology
Colors  Blue
  Red
  Yellow
Party flag
Party flag
Website
https://afraniman.org

The Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (French: Mouvement pour l'autodétermination de la Kabylie, Kabyle: Amussu i ufraniman n tmurt n iqbayliyen, MAK), formerly the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (French: Mouvement pour l'autonomie de la Kabylie), from 2001 to 2013, is a Kabyle nationalist and pro-independence political organization seeking the independence of Kabylia from Algeria. It was founded by the Kabyle Amazigh activist Ferhat Mehenni, now president of the Provisional Government of Kabylia in exile, after the "Black Spring" demonstrations in 2001. In May 2021, the movement was designated a terrorist organization by Algeria.[1] In December 2025, MAK symbolically proclaimed Kabyle independence in a ceremony in France.[3]

History and activities

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History

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The organization started as the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia and was founded following the events of the Black Spring in Kabylia and Algiers in 2001,[4] during which protests by local Kabyle communities and activists was met with violence from the Algerian state which resulted in 128 deaths.[5]

The Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia renamed itself into the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia in 2013, marking a shift from demands of regional autonomy into independence. The newly renamed organization demanded a referendum among the population of Kabylia for a vote of independence.[6][7]

The same year, the Provisional Government of Kabylia (GPK) was founded in Paris by the movement.[8]

On 14 December 2025, MAK symbolically proclaimed the independence of Kabylia from Paris, France.[9] The date was chosen in reference to the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples from the United Nations of December 14, 1960.

Allegations of terrorism

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Since 2021, the MAK has been classified as a terrorist organization by the Algerian government after the Algerian authorities alleged that MAK members were planting car bombs.[1] 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.[10]

The MAK consistently denies any involvement in violent or terrorist activities, and calls them unproven accusations by the Algerian government.[11][12] MAK also states that it is a pacifist movement with no objectives of armed insurgency.[13][14]

Algerian authorities accused MAK of ordering the widespread 2021 Algeria wildfires in the region of Kabylia.[15][16] 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.[17] On August 26, 2021, Algeria issued an international arrest warrant for Ferhat Mehenni.[18] According to Amnesty International, the Algerian government sentenced at least 10 individuals to death solely "based on their political affiliations or alleged ties to the Movement for the Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK)"[19] in what it describes as unfair trials.[20]

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.[21]

In August 2024, Algeria 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.[22]

Ideology

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MAK claims it is a Kabyle nationalist organization that seeks to achieve the independence of Kabylia through peaceful, non-violent means. Its self-proclaimed goals are to achieve Kabyle independence through political organization, international law, and appeals to democratic norms.[23] It claims its essential values are dignity, respect, pacifism, and solemnity.[24]

Human rights

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MAK denounces the abusive arrests by the Algerian government and the cultural stigmatization of minorities in Algeria.[25][26][27][28][29]

Pro-Israel

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MAK leader Ferhat Mehenni has long been an outspoken supporter of Israel, drawing comparisons between the Kabyle cause and the Jewish cause.[30] He made a visit to Israel in 2012, met 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.[31] In early 2026 members of the Israeli Knesset spoke out in favor of the Kabyle cause and proposed an initiative to study potential Israeli recognition of Kabylian independence. Aksel Bellabbaci, advisor to Mehenni, reacted to the proposal positively and stated that the initiative increased the visibility of the Kabyle cause.[32]

Organization

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Leadership

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No Portrait Name Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1
Ferhat Mehenni 24 August 2001 1 June 2010 8 years, 281 days
2
Mohand-Larbi Tayeb[33] 1 June 2010 5 August 2011 1 year, 65 days Acting President.
3
Mouloud Mebarki[33] 5 August 2011 9 December 2011 126 days Acting President.
4
Bouaziz Ait Chebib 9 December 2011 17 November 2016 4 years, 344 days
5
Ferhat Mehenni 17 November 2016 Incumbent 9 years, 291 days

Foreign funding

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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".[34]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Algeria". U.S. Department of State – Home. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ↑ Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board of (2013-08-16). "Algeria: information on the Mouvement pour l'autonomie de la Kabylie (MAK), including its activities and the treatment of MAK members at the hands of the authorities and Islamists; treatment of Berbers by the authorities and Islamists (2009 - March 2013) DZA104327.FE" (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  3. ↑ Dakar (Senegal), APA- (2025-12-15). "Kabyle Movement unilaterally proclaims independence in Paris". APAnews - African Press Agency. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  4. ↑ "Le mouvement des âarch en Algérie : pour une alternative démocratique autonome ?". Revue des mondes musulmans et de la Méditerranée (in French). 2006. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  5. ↑ "Algeria reinstates term limit and recognises Berber language". BBC News. 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  6. ↑ Tilmatine, Mohand; Desrues, Thierry (2018-02-19). Les revendications amazighes dans la tourmente des « printemps arabes »: Trajectoires historiques et évolutions récentes des mouvements identitaires en Afrique du Nord (in French). Centre Jacques-Berque. ISBN 979-10-92046-33-5.
  7. ↑ "UNHCR Web Archive". webarchive.archive.unhcr.org. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  8. ↑ › hal-02177367 › document La construction d’un mouvement national identitaire kabyle: du local au transnational, Mohand TILMATINE, p. 28
  9. ↑ "La Kabylie proclame son indépendance en France" (in French). Kabyle.com. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "Le mouvement kabyle MAK dénonce l' «obsession» d'Alger à le qualifier de «terroriste» | Arab News FR". www.arabnews.fr (in French). 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Algérie: le mouvement kabyle MAK réfute tout projet d'attentat". Le Figaro (in French). 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  15. ↑ "Algeria blames groups it links to Morocco, Israel for wildfires". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  16. ↑ "Algeria accuses groups it links to Morocco, Israel of setting wildfires". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  17. ↑ "49 people sentenced to death for mob killing in Algeria". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2022-11-25. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  18. ↑ "L'Algérie lance un mandat d'arrêt contre le chef du MAK, Ferhat Mehenni". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  19. ↑ "Algeria: Ensure Fair Retrial of Dozens Accused of Violence in Kabylie without Resort to the Death Penalty". Amnesty International USA. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  20. ↑ "Algeria: Mass death sentences marred by unfair trials, torture claims". Amnesty International. 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  21. ↑ "Algeria thwarts armed attack plot that had Israeli support". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  22. ↑ El Atti, Basma (15 August 2024). "Algeria claims 'terror plot' by separatist Amazigh group MAK and 'foreign intelligence services'". The New Arab.
  23. ↑ Navon, Emmanuel. "The Blogs: As Kabylia Declares Independence, Israel Should Not be Silent". Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  24. ↑ "Déclaration d'indépendance de la Kabylie – ou comment la petite histoire rencontre la grande Histoire" (in French). Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  25. ↑ "France: Rassemblement du MAK contre le projet « Zéro Kabyle » mené par le régime algérien – Agence Afrique" (in French). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  26. ↑ "Atteintes aux droits de l'homme en Algérie notamment envers les Kabyles". Sénat (in French). 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  27. ↑ Muyyud (2021-02-21). "Persécution anti-kabyle : Le MAK rencontre un haut responsable d'Amnesty International". VAVA innova (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  28. ↑ Kabyle.com, Rédaction (2025-01-08). "13 000 détenus Kabyles : l'aube d'une persécution systématique – Kabyle.com" (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  29. ↑ "Algérie : qu'est-ce que le MAK, qui vaut à Christophe Gleizes d'être condamné à sept ans de prison ?". franceinfo (in French). 2025-11-30. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  30. ↑ "Algeria's Kabylie craves friendship with Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 2012-05-27. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ "Après l'indépendance, la reconnaissance: la Kabylie s'invite à la Knesset israélienne". Le 360 Français (in French). Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  33. 1 2 "TIZI-OUZOU (SIWEL) — Le Mouvement pour l'autonomie de la Kabylie a désapprouvé l'ex président par intérim Mohend Larbi Tayeb l'accusant de « violation des textes » du mouvement et de « mener la Kabylie vers la normalisation »". siwel. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  34. ↑ "Soutien financier secret du Maroc à Ferhat mehenni". Djazairess. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
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