Reporters Without Borders' approach to Tebboune generates rejection in Algeria
Images of journalist and current Reporters Without Borders (RSF) representative in North Africa, Khaled Drareni - imprisoned between 2020 and 2021 - with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune have sparked controversy in Algeria.
????| Tandis que le Maroc dégringole dans le classement de la liberté de la presse par RSF, le représentant de RSF pour l’Afrique du Nord, Khaled Drareni rencontre le Président algérien Abdelmadjid Tebboune à Alger.
— Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) May 4, 2023
Dans un communiqué digne de Canal Algérie, l’ONG affirme que «… pic.twitter.com/dSK6wOLgj4
According to Maghreb Intelligence, Drareni was invited to a celebration organised by Algiers on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which is ironic given the censorship and pressures on journalists in Algeria. As the portal specialised in North Africa reminds us, Tebboune is considered the "executioner" of the press and freedom of expression in the Maghreb country, as since his arrival in power he has imprisoned several reporters, including Ihsane el Kadi, recently sentenced to five years in prison.
Procès Ihsan El kadi journaliste le parquet a requis 3 ans de prison ferme assortie d'une amende de 100 000 Da avec interdiction d'exercer dans la fonction publique , suspension de Radio M pour 5 ans lors de son procès aujourd'hui.
— said SALHI (@saidsalhi527) May 17, 2022
Le verdict est prévu pour le 21 Mai 2022. pic.twitter.com/LZXCgfpUsW
The images of Drareni with Tebboune quickly circulated on social media, where many Algerians criticised the RSF representative, a defender of Hirak. The journalist tried to defuse the controversy, claiming that the French NGO had "commissioned" him to deliver a letter to the Algerian president urging him to release El Kadi, who was arrested in December.
En ma qualité de Représentant de Reporters sans frontières (RSF) en Afrique du Nord, je serai porteur aujourd’hui d’une lettre officielle de mon organisation au Président de la république, dans laquelle nous appelerons à la levée des restrictions, à l'arrêt des atteintes et à la… pic.twitter.com/TfHJ9MZhQx
— Khaled Drareni (@khaleddrareni) May 3, 2023
However, according to Maghreb Intelligence - based on Algerian sources - it was Drareni himself who asked RSF to meet with Tebboune. "Khaled Drareni was subjected to enormous pressure from the security services and the Algerian government to 'accept a friendly gesture' towards President Tebboune," the portal notes.
Drareni is banned from leaving the country and continues to be threatened by past court cases. His media outlet, Casbah Tribune, is also still closed by the Algerian authorities. Maghreb Intelligence claims that, in order to obtain his freedom, the journalist has been in talks "since the end of 2022 with powerful circles in the security services to negotiate an agreement" to put an end to the pressures he is under.
@RSF_inter a dévoilé son vrai visage de "juge et partie" comme elle l'a été depuis toujours !
Cette rencontre parsemée de doute et qui s’inscrit au moment de la publication du classement farfelue de RSF sur la liberté de la presse en est la preuve irréfutable ! pic.twitter.com/0nDJLvhqp6— Sanaa Berrada (@SbrunetteB) May 4, 2023
For this reason, Drareni is reportedly trying to convince Christophe Desloire, director of Reporters Without Borders, to make an official trip to Algiers in order to soften criticism of the situation of the press in the country. Maghreb Intelligence stresses that this situation puts RSF "in a very delicate position", recalling its lack of involvement in the case of journalist Mustapha Bendjama, imprisoned in February, and in the arrests of people accused of providing information to Algérie Part.
Exclu du rapport annuel de RSF sur la liberté de la presse, le journaliste Mustapha Bendjama est en prison pour son activité de journaliste, a affirmé son avocat Adel Messaoudi. En tout cas c'était évident pour moi. #FreeMustaphaBendjama pic.twitter.com/RvTMy0tsBG
— Yamina Baïr (@BairYamina) May 4, 2023
"RSF's silence is perceived in Algiers as an indirect complicity that illustrates the unfortunate consequences of this problematic relationship with the Algerian leadership," it concludes.
