🗓️ Published on: 10/16/2025
A Firm International Rebuke of Algeria’s Deteriorating Human Rights Record
In a secret ballot held by the United Nations General Assembly on 14 October 2025 in New York, Algeria failed to retain its seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, following the end of its previous mandate (2023–2025). According to the official results published by the United Nations, Algeria was not re-elected, with the African Group’s seats instead going to Angola, Mauritius, and Egypt.
https://www.un.org/en/ga/80/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml: خسارة الجزائر مقعدها في مجلس حقوق الإنسان تكشف التدهور المقلق في سجلها الحقوقيA Defeat That Underscores Algeria’s Increasing Diplomatic Isolation
Observers view the defeat as a clear signal from the international community about the alarming decline of Algeria’s human rights reputation.
Although the Algerian delegation sought to project an image of steadfast commitment to human rights, the mounting reports from UN mechanisms and international watchdogs detailing arbitrary detentions, torture, and the systematic suppression of independent unions left little ground for continued support.
A Steady Dismantling of Basic Freedoms
Since 2019, Algeria has experienced a sharp deterioration in civil liberties. Numerous people have been arrested for peaceful expression, independent media have been silenced, and trade unionists, journalists, and human rights advocates have been subjected to politically motivated prosecutions.
According to the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association, Algeria has been found in persistent breach of Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, through the systematic dissolution of independent unions and the judicial harassment of their leaders.
In this context, the imprisonment of trade unionist Ali Mammeri and the dissolution of the SNATEG union stand among the clearest examples of the ongoing political criminalization of independent trade union activity in Algeria.
Media and Civil Society Under Siege
Press freedom in Algeria has come under unprecedented strain, as authorities block independent news websites, deny broadcasting licenses, and tighten surveillance over social media platforms, invoking the fight against “fake news” as justification.
Civil associations in Algeria are subjected to a pattern of bureaucratic harassment that prevents them from registering or renewing their status, pushing many to relocate their activities overseas or shut down entirely.
Crackdown on Migrants
Alongside its internal repression, Algeria faces sharp criticism from international organizations over the mass forced deportations of Sub-Saharan African migrants and the inhumane conditions of detention and treatment during expulsions—a blatant violation of both the UN Convention against Torture and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
A Symbolic Blow to Algeria’s Credibility and Its Double-Track Diplomacy
Many observers interpret Algeria’s failure to secure re-election as a serious blow to its self-styled “human rights diplomacy,” which for years aimed to portray the country as a regional bridge between Africa and the Arab world.
The international community has grown increasingly intolerant of Algeria’s double discourse — pledging adherence to UN principles abroad while suppressing fundamental freedoms at home.
A former diplomat summed it up clearly: “The message is unmistakable — a state cannot claim a seat in managing global human rights affairs while systematically violating them within its own borders.”
A Moment of Reckoning and a Chance for Reform
Far from being a mere symbolic setback, the outcome serves as a political wake-up call for Algerian authorities to re-evaluate their internal approach and adopt tangible measures to regain international credibility.
- The release of detained trade unionists and political prisoners.
- Halting the arbitrary dissolution of independent trade unions and civil society organizations.
- Ensuring an open and inclusive media and civil space, free from discrimination and state control.
- Genuine cooperation with the United Nations’ special mechanisms, not merely formal or symbolic engagement.
Without genuine reforms, Algeria will remain outside the circle of international trust — no matter how hard it tries to polish its image in global forums.
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