Algeria

2019

  
Algerian security forces are seen in Algiers on December 4, 2019. Authorities recently sentenced cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to three months in prison. (AP/Toufik Doudou)

Algeria sentences cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to 3 months in prison

Washington, D.C., December 19, 2019 — A court in Oran, in northwest Algeria, sentenced cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to one year in prison on December 11 after finding him guilty of insulting the president, “violating territorial integrity,” and “disseminating publications harmful to national security,” according to news reports. The Djamal City Criminal Court suspended nine months…

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Protesters wave national flags as they gather for a demonstration against the government and the ruling class in Algiers on November 29, 2019. Algerians are due to vote in a presidential election on December 12. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering unrest and elections in Algeria

Protests are taking place across Algeria ahead of a presidential election that is scheduled to take place on December 12, according to reports. The December vote comes after the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down from power after 20 years of rule amid widespread protests at the start of the year, according to…

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Protesters chant slogans during anti-government demonstrations in Algiers, on October 18, 2019. Police have arrested at least five journalists in recent weeks. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

Algeria arrests fifth journalist amid anti-government protests

Washington, D.C., October 23, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Algerian authorities to release Bendjama Mustapha, editor-in-chief of Le Provincial, and end the harassment of journalists covering anti-government protests.

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Algerian demonstrators chant and wave their country's national flag as they take part in an anti-government protest in the capital Algiers on October 15, 2019. Authorities have detained at least three more journalists in recent days. (AFP)

Algeria detains three journalists who covered protests, alleged corruption

Washington, D.C., October 17, 2019–Algerian authorities should immediately release journalists Said Boudour, Abdelmoundji Kheladi, and Adel Azeb Chikh from pretrial detention and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen at El Harrach prison in Algiers, Algeria, on June 13, 2019. Freelance journalist Sofiane Merakchi was recently sent to the prison for pre-trial detention. (Reuters/Ramzi Boudina)

Algerian authorities arrest freelance journalist Sofiane Merakchi

Washington, D.C., September 27, 2019 — Algerian authorities should immediately release journalist Sofiane Merakchi and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A man holds a placard reading "no one can stop a people marching for his freedom" as Algerian protesters demonstrate in Algiers on July 26, 2019. Access to at least five independent local news websites has been interrupted in recent weeks amid the protests. (AFP)

More online news blocked as Algeria protests near 6 month mark

New York, August 14, 2019—Access to at least five independent local news websites has been interrupted in Algeria as protesters demand political reform for the fifth consecutive month.

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Demonstrators are seen in Algiers, Algeria, on May 17, 2019. Independent news websites Tout Sur l'Algérie and Algérie Part have been widely inaccessible in the country since June 12. (Reuters/Ramzi Boudina)

Two news websites inaccessible in Algeria amid protests, social media shutdowns

New York, June 17, 2019 — Independent news websites Tout Sur l’Algérie and Algérie Part have been widely inaccessible within Algeria since June 12, according to local journalists and news reports. The apparently targeted disruption took place amid anti-government protests that have been ongoing for nearly four months, and began shortly before several social media…

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Algerian journalists take part in a demonstration outside the headquarters of the country's national television broadcaster in Algiers on March 25, 2019. At least two journalists were recently suspended from the broadcaster. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

Algerian state broadcaster suspends two journalists amid reporters’ sit-ins

In April and May 2019, Algeria’s Public Establishment of Television, the state broadcaster, suspended at least two television journalists who sought to cover protests in the country, according to journalists who spoke to CPJ and news reports.

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Aymeric Vincenot, AFP's Algiers bureau chief, sits at his office on March 1, 2019. Vincenot was recently expelled from Algiers after authorities declined to renew his press permit. (AFP)

Algeria expels AFP bureau chief Aymeric Vincenot after accreditation expires

New York, April 16, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the expulsion of Aymeric Vincenot, the Agence France-Presse bureau chief in Algiers, and called on the Algerian government to facilitate press accreditation for foreign journalists.

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People protest in Algiers, Algeria, March 29, 2019. Two foreign reporters were recently expelled from the country. (Ramzi Boudina/Reuters)

Tunisian Reuters and TRT journalists detained, expelled during Algeria protests

New York, April 4, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the detention and expulsion of two Tunisian journalists from Algeria and called on Algerian authorities to allow the foreign press to freely cover demonstrations in the country.

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2019