The Kabylie independence movement, MAK of Algeria officially declared the rebirth of the Kabylie state at a ceremony in New York, after years of peaceful struggle.
The independence proclamation took place in New York near the UN marking the ambition of the new Kabylie state to become a fully-fledged member of the international community.
In this regard, the OFFICIAL JOURNAL published this Saturday, April 20, 2024, the Law proclaiming the renaissance of Kabylie State. This text of the law was examined, amended, and adopted during the plenary session of the Kabylie Parliament held on March 30, 2024.
The text of the Law stated that “The Kabylie State is the legitimate representative of the Kabyle people in Kabylia and throughout the world. It is the emanation of the will of all those who campaign for its advent”. “The Kabyle State is working to organize the self-determination referendum of the Kabylie people”.
Speaking to the audience, MAK chief, Ferhat Mehenni recalled the history of the Kabylie state which was attached to modern-day Algeria by French colonialism.
“It was against Algerian colonialism that Kabylie revolted from 1963 to 1966,” recalled Mehenni.
Participants at the proclamation in New York raised Kabylie flags and chanted the national anthem.
A few days ago, Mehenni spoke to participants in the 23rd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He urged the inclusion of Kabylia into the UN decolonization process.
He voiced hope that the UN’s fourth committee on decolonization will receive a Kabylia delegation to look into how to support their peaceful independence struggle.
Ferhat Mehenni deplored that over 500 peaceful pro-independence Kabylian activists are in jail on charges of terrorism.
Mehenni denounced that Algeria uses forceful means to defend self-determination but denies the same right to the Kabylie people, who have a distinct history of sovereignty prior to French colonialism and national assets, including their own Amazigh language and traditional laws.
Kabylie populations have long been repressed and stigmatized by occupational forces. While the Kabylie people were at the forefront of the struggle against French colonialism, Kabylie leaders were assassinated by a military junta that took power in the wake of independence, installing a single-party regime.
It is alleged126 Kabylie protesters were killed during Bouteflika’s rule in the incidents of the Black Spring when thousands took to the streets to demand recognition of their linguistic and cultural specificities and better economic development. The protests were sparked by the killing of high school student Massinisa Guermah by the Algerian gendarmerie.
Under the Chengriha-Tebboune duo, the took strong actions. Kabyle activists have accused Algiers of deliberately setting fire to their region as Algerian authorities sent scores of Kabyle independence activists to jail.
During the 2019 presidential elections and the ensuing constitutional referendum, turnout in the restive Kabylie region was near zero.