On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the French Parliament witnessed a significant political event with the reception of a delegation from the exiled Kabyle Government, led by its president Ferhat Mehenni, by young French MP Hanan Mansouri. This reception, held in the heart of Paris, marked a decisive political blow to the Algerian regime, which has long sought to silence and marginalize the Kabyle voice.
Far from being a mere ceremonial procedure, this visit carried deep political implications amid the Algerian regime’s persistent efforts to suppress any movement advocating for the Kabyle people’s right to self-determination. The meeting underscored the growing international importance of the Kabyle cause.
From Paris, Ferhat Mehenni delivered a powerful statement reaffirming the movement’s commitment to peaceful resistance: “We have chosen peaceful struggle… and we will not be intimidated by the regime’s brutality or its propaganda outlets.” This declaration directly challenges Algerian attempts to label the Kabyle movement as a terrorist threat, emphasizing the peaceful nature of their demands.
This historic step represents a crucial breakthrough against the Algerian regime’s imposed silence on the Kabyle voice. It also exposes the fragility of a regime struggling to contain even diplomatic moves within the strongholds of Western democracy, highlighting its diminishing influence on the international stage regarding this issue.
Observers now await the repercussions of this meeting on Algeria-France relations and the future of the Kabyle people’s cause, which is gaining increasing international momentum as the exiled government seeks to break its isolation and internationalize its struggle.