Algeria’s History Wars Reach the Press

November 28, 2025 – Algeria – 

Veteran Algerian journalist Saâd Bouakba, aged 79, was placed under provisional detention on 27 November 2025 after a court accepted a defamation complaint filed by the daughter of Ahmed Ben Bella, the country’s first president. The complaint accuses Bouakba of disseminating false information and insulting state symbols and independence-war figures — charges stemming from a recent interview broadcast on the YouTube channel Vision TV News. In that interview, Bouakba reportedly discussed allegations of irregular distribution of funds by the FLN during the independence struggle.

According to the public prosecutor’s office at the Bir Mourad Raïs court in Algiers, Bouakba is charged with “spreading false, inaccurate, and defamatory information” as well as “insulting symbols of the Revolution.” The Ministry of Moudjahidine (veterans’ affairs) has joined the case as a civil party, underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the matter.

Bouakba, a seasoned journalist with decades of experience in both public and private media — including stints at major outlets — denies the allegations. He maintains that his statements were based on a historical book published decades ago and that his commentary simply addressed contested episodes from Algeria’s past. This is not the first time Bouakba has faced defamation charges — in 2023, he was sentenced to six months in prison in a similar case.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for early December, while Bouakba remains detained. His arrest, critics say, represents the latest instance in a growing crackdown on independent and outspoken journalism in Algeria. Media-freedom advocates and civil society voices warn that prosecuting journalists for historical debate or critical commentary undermines press freedom and democratic discourse.

The case raises broader questions about how Algeria handles dissenting voices and historical memory. By targeting a journalist for revisiting controversial wartime decisions and alleged misdeeds by independence-era leaders, authorities appear to be signaling a tightening grip on narrative control. The trial of Saâd Bouakba will be closely watched domestically and internationally — as a litmus test for whether critical journalism still has a place in Algeria’s public sphere.

Reference – 

https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_algerian-journalist-placed-pretrial-detention-alleged-defamation/6181730.html

https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/182305/algerian-journalist-bouakba-faces-trial.html

https://apanews.net/veteran-journalist-detained-in-algeria-over-defamation/

Algerian authorities arrest journalist Saad Bouakba for comments on independence war