Kabylia has been a member of the UNPO since 2017. 

The people of Kabylia have a distinct Amazigh (Berber) identity, language, and cultural heritage, which have been preserved through centuries of resistance to Arabization and assimilation.

Kabyle people face systemic exclusion from political decision-making processes by the Algerian government, which enforces policies of centralization that marginalize regional identities and suppress cultural expression. The Kabyle people have long sought to defend their right to self determination and political recognition, but their demands are often met with repression, including the banning of their political movements and restrictions on the use of the Kabyle language.

The UNPO secretariat works for the rights of people of Kabylia as a whole and might work with different civil society organizations, groups and representatives from Kabylia. However, the main organization representing the rights of the people of Kabylia within the UNPO membership and with voting rights at the General Assembly is the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK-Anavad). You can read more about them here.

The Kabyle people, one of the prominent Berber (Amazigh) groups indigenous to North Africa, primarily inhabit the mountainous region of Kabylia in northern Algeria. Home to approximately seven to ten million people, Kabylia has a distinct identity characterized by its unique language, culture, and history of resistance. This identity has been preserved through centuries of opposition to Arabization and assimilation efforts, allowing the Kabyle people to maintain their strong connection to the larger Amazigh heritage. Their culture, rooted in values such as democracy, freedom, secularism, solidarity, and respect for others, remains a powerful symbol of their collective consciousness and resilience.

Kabylia, with its rich history and cultural heritage, has long been a center of Berber identity and resistance against various forms of foreign domination. The region’s inhabitants have fiercely defended their land and autonomy against successive invaders, including the Romans, Arabs, and French. During Algeria’s struggle for independence from French colonial rule, the Kabyle people played a significant role, contributing to the broader national resistance.

However, following Algeria’s independence in the early 1960s, the Kabyle people have faced continuous political repression and marginalization by the Algerian government. The centralization policies of the Algerian state have systematically targeted regional identities, particularly that of the Kabyle people. These policies have included efforts to suppress the Kabyle language, culture, and political movements, all in an attempt to assimilate the Kabyle population into a homogenized national identity.

The political repression of the Kabyle people by the Algerian government has intensified over the years, manifesting in various forms of censorship, persecution, and discrimination. The government has aggressively pursued policies aimed at Arabizing the education system, media, and administrative practices, thereby eroding the cultural and linguistic distinctiveness of the Kabyle people. Additionally, economic policies have been implemented that disproportionately burden the Kabyle region, including heavy tax impositions, the blocking of economic projects, and the expropriation of natural resources such as oil, lead, zinc, and water. These actions have further marginalized the Kabyle population, contributing to widespread poverty and economic disenfranchisement.

In recent years, Kabylia has also faced growing insecurity, marked by an alarming rise in kidnappings and violence. Over the past decade, more than 100 business leaders, merchants, and their families have been abducted, leading to a significant exodus of business owners from the region. This situation has exacerbated economic disinvestment, resulting in higher unemployment rates and driving many young people to seek opportunities abroad, particularly in Europe and Canada.

The environmental situation in Kabylia has also become increasingly precarious. The region has been ravaged by a series of devastating fires, which have not only destroyed vast areas of forest and farmland but have also led to significant loss of life and property. These fires, often exacerbated by poor governmental response and mismanagement, have sparked controversy and anger among the Kabyle people. Many believe that the government’s inadequate response to these environmental crises is yet another form of neglect and repression, further deepening the mistrust between Kabylia and the Algerian state.

The Algerian government’s response to the growing demands for autonomy and cultural preservation has been to tighten its grip on the region. This includes the implementation of new laws that severely restrict freedom of association and expression, which have been widely condemned by the United Nations and international human rights organizations. Arbitrary detentions of activists and members of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK-Anavad) have become increasingly common, as the government seeks to quash any efforts to assert Kabyle identity or push for greater political rights.

The ongoing repression and marginalization of the Kabyle people by the Algerian government highlights the urgent need for the exercise of their right to self-determination. Recognizing and respecting this right would allow the Kabyle people to reclaim control over their cultural and linguistic heritage, protect their land and resources from exploitation, and participate fully in the political processes that affect their lives. Self-determination is not only crucial for preserving Kabyle identity but also for ensuring their social, economic, and political well-being in the face of systemic efforts to suppress their distinctiveness.