The Kabyle Cause Shakes Algeria’s Calculations as Its Voice Reaches Global Decision-Makers

By: Ghita Hafiani

The Kabyle question is no longer an internal Algerian affair confined within national borders or limited to debates among opposition groups and exiled activists. The event recently held in the chamber of the British House of Lords marked a significant turning point, as the movement advocating for Kabyle rights succeeded in making its case heard within one of the world’s oldest political institutions — a development that signals the transition of the issue from the margins to influential international platforms.

This appearance in the British Parliament was far from symbolic or merely ceremonial; it sent a clear and deliberate message: the Kabyle issue has now reached the desks of policymakers rather than simply circulating within media forums or human rights conferences. With another key event scheduled for December 14, Kabyle leaders appear to be following a gradual, carefully structured strategy aimed at internationalizing their cause and breaking decades of imposed isolation.

On the other side, the Algerian regime has shown visible signs of confusion. It quickly mobilized state media, propaganda networks, and online activists in an orchestrated campaign to undermine and discredit Kabyle advocacy efforts, resorting to populist rhetoric marked by accusations of treason, denial, and misinformation.

Yet this media backlash is not a sign of confidence. Quite the opposite — it reflects growing concern over a movement gaining momentum beyond the government’s control. The Kabyle cause today relies on a narrative rooted in rights, identity, and history, while the Algerian state faces a crisis of legitimacy and declining trust both domestically and internationally.

These developments are no longer isolated protests or sporadic demands — they represent the clear expression of a people convinced that the era of silence has ended and that their long-delayed claim for recognition may now be within reach.

The question now is no longer: Will the Kabyle demands fade away?

It has shifted to: Can the Algerian regime stop a wave that has already crossed its borders and is now knocking on the doors of the global diplomatic and political arena?

The answer is increasingly evident:
The Kabyle voice has stepped out of the shadows — and it is not going back.