Kabyle Independence Movement to Take Center Stage with Major March in Paris on April 20

Paris, France – April 3, 2025 – The Mouvement pour l’Autodétermination de la Kabylie (MAK), led by its exiled president Ferhat Mehenni, has announced a significant march scheduled for April 20 in Paris, aimed at spotlighting the Kabyle people’s long-standing aspirations for independence from Algeria. This event, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the "Amazigh Spring" – a pivotal moment in Kabyle history – is poised to draw thousands of supporters and is expected to garner substantial media attention across France, amplifying the movement’s call for self-determination on an international stage.

A Movement Rooted in History

The MAK, originally founded as the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie in 2001 by Ferhat Mehenni following the violent "Black Spring" protests in Kabylie, evolved into a full-fledged independence movement by October 2013. The Kabyles, an Amazigh (Berber) people native to the mountainous region of northern Algeria, have long sought recognition of their distinct language, culture, and identity, which they argue have been suppressed under successive Algerian governments promoting Arabization policies since the country’s independence in 1962. With an estimated population of 5.5 to 12 million within Algeria’s 40 million inhabitants, the Kabyles represent a significant minority whose demands have grown from cultural recognition to political sovereignty.

Ferhat Mehenni, a former singer and a veteran advocate for the Amazigh cause, has been a polarizing figure in this struggle. Now leading the Provisional Government of Kabylie (GPK) in exile from France, Mehenni has faced severe repercussions from Algerian authorities, including a life sentence in absentia in 2022 and an international arrest warrant issued in 2021. Algeria classified the MAK as a terrorist organization in May 2021, accusing it of orchestrating wildfires and violent acts – claims the movement vehemently denies, asserting its commitment to peaceful advocacy.

The Significance of the April 20 March

The upcoming march in Paris is not just a demonstration but a strategic move to internationalize the Kabyle cause. Organizers anticipate a turnout of over 20,000 participants, drawing from the significant Kabyle diaspora in France and beyond, as well as solidarity from other independence movements and human rights advocates. The date, April 20, holds deep symbolic weight, marking the 1980 Amazigh Spring when Kabyle students protested against the banning of a lecture on Berber poetry, sparking a broader movement for cultural and political rights.

“This march is a powerful statement of our determination to achieve independence through peaceful means,” Mehenni said in a recent statement to supporters. “The world must see that the Kabyle people refuse to be silenced, and Paris, as a global hub of freedom, is the perfect stage to amplify our voice.” He has previously criticized French media for what he calls a “blackout” on Kabyle issues, expressing hope that this event will force a shift in coverage.

Participants echo this sentiment. Aksel Bellabbaci, a key MAK organizer and advisor to Mehenni, emphasized the event’s broader implications: “On April 20, we will show that our fight is not just for Kabylie but for all oppressed peoples seeking self-determination. The presence of women, youth, and international allies will underscore our pacifist resolve.”

Expected Media Coverage in France

The march is anticipated to be a highly publicized event in France, a country with a complex historical relationship with Algeria due to its colonial past and a large Algerian diaspora. Posts on X indicate that French media outlets are already taking note, with some predicting it will be “very mediatized.” This attention is partly fueled by the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers, which have flared over issues ranging from migration to historical reconciliation. The MAK’s presence in France has long been a point of contention, with Algeria accusing France of harboring “separatists,” a charge Paris has not formally addressed.

French journalists and commentators are expected to cover the event extensively, given its scale and the provocative nature of its demands. Past MAK marches, such as the one in April 2023 that drew thousands to Paris, received limited mainstream coverage, prompting criticism from organizers. However, the growing visibility of the Kabyle cause – bolstered by Mehenni’s outspokenness and the movement’s diplomatic efforts, such as submitting a memorandum to the UN in 2017 – suggests this event could mark a turning point. International outlets may also pick up the story, especially as the MAK has cultivated support from groups in Morocco, Israel, and various European nations.

Context and Controversy

The Kabyle independence movement operates in a fraught political landscape. Within Algeria, the MAK remains a minority voice, with many Kabyles aligning with national unity under parties like the Front des Forces Socialistes (FFS), which opposes separatism. The Algerian government has cracked down harshly on MAK activists, with reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and travel bans. In 2021, the murder of Djamel Ben Ismail, for which five MAK members including Mehenni were convicted in absentia, intensified the regime’s narrative of the group as a terrorist threat – a label rejected by the United States and Canada, which view it as a political rather than security issue.

Critics, including some within the Kabyle community, accuse the MAK of being a fringe group propped up by foreign interests, notably Morocco, which has voiced support for Kabyle self-determination amid its own rivalry with Algeria over Western Sahara. A former MAK member, Idir Djouder, alleged in 2011 that the movement received significant funding from Morocco, a claim Mehenni has denied.

Looking Ahead

As April 20 approaches, the march promises to be a defining moment for the MAK and the Kabyle independence movement. For supporters, it’s a chance to rally global awareness and pressure Algeria into negotiations – a goal Mehenni has tied to a potential declaration of a Kabyle state if talks fail by June 2025. For detractors, it’s a provocative stunt that risks further alienating Kabyles from the Algerian mainstream.

Whatever the outcome, the streets of Paris will soon resonate with the chants of “Kabylie Libre,” as a people’s quest for self-determination steps boldly into the international spotlight. Whether this bold move will shift the needle on their decades-long struggle remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the world will be watching.