Paris – French authorities have effectively thwarted a planned event by the separatist group known as MAK, dealing a blow to their aspirations of declaring the independence of the Kabylie region. A decree issued by the prefecture of Val-d’Oise prohibited the group from holding its planned meeting at the Versailles congress center on December 14, 2025, citing security concerns.
The decision effectively scuttled weeks of preparations by MAK, which included promotional campaigns and attempts to attract foreign attendees and activists. This move directly impacts an organization that Algeria considers a terrorist group, one that has historically operated from French soil. The Algerian government has long accused MAK of seeking to destabilize the country and incite violence.
The French decision has been met with widespread approval in Algeria, coinciding with a growing wave of popular opposition, both within and outside the Kabylie region, to any separatist agenda. This rejection was underscored by a comprehensive statement signed by journalists, academics, researchers, and cultural figures, reaffirming their commitment to a united Algeria and invoking a shared national identity.
The statement emphasized that the Amazigh cultural movement has always been nationalistic, democratic, and identity-focused, never veering into calls for division or hostility toward the nation. “The Amazigh identity is rooted in Algeria, not outside it,” the statement read.
The signatories, prominent figures in academia and media, reiterated the core principles of the Amazigh struggle: the restoration of Amazigh identity, the official recognition and promotion of the Amazigh language alongside Arabic and Islam, and the building of a state based on the rule of law, freedoms, and social justice within a unified national framework rich in its diversity.
The statement further highlighted the historical role of the Kabylie region in Algeria’s struggles, noting its prominent participation in popular resistance against colonial occupation, the liberation war, and the subsequent building of the nation and the democratic process. They emphasized that the region has never been a breeding ground for discord or division, remaining committed to peaceful political action and citizenship, and reiterated their categorical rejection of any calls that undermine the country’s unity and sovereignty, deeming such actions a red line.
