Algerian journalist Saâd Bouakba, a well-known figure in the national press, was placed in pretrial detention on Thursday following a complaint filed by Mahdia Ben Bella, daughter of Algeria's first president. She accuses the commentator of having tarnished her father's memory in a program broadcast on the YouTube channel Vision TV News, where Bouakba discussed the illegal distribution of FLN funds during the War of Independence. The Bir Mourad Raïs prosecutor's office immediately opened an investigation, citing "false information" and "attacks on the symbols of the Revolution."
The case, however, has taken on a political dimension. Bouakba, 79, maintains that he merely quoted a historical work published nearly half a century ago, which was never challenged by the leaders of the time. Despite this, the public prosecutor's office initiated immediate proceedings and ordered his detention, while the Ministry of Mujahideen Affairs joined the case as a civil party. The owner of Vision TV and the journalist who conducted the interview will also be prosecuted, even though neither has been the subject of a direct complaint.
This swift reaction comes amid growing pressure on the independent press in Algeria. It is not the first time the authorities have targeted Bouakba: already sentenced in 2023 to six months in prison for defamation, he had since been living under a travel ban. Observers denounce the political manipulation of the judicial system and the exploitation of a family complaint to silence a journalist known for his outspokenness and critical perspective on Algerian history.
The hearing was adjourned until December 4, while Bouakba remains behind bars. For many press freedom advocates, this imprisonment illustrates a worrying trend within the Algerian government, which no longer hesitates to imprison journalists for statements related to historical debate. It is yet another warning sign in a country where freedom of expression is visibly shrinking.
