Tebboune abandons Kabyle visit
While the local authorities were instructed to do their utmost to ensure the success of this visit-challenge, by mobilizing the Kabyle population as much as possible, the authorities multiplied their initiatives to win their sympathy. Give JS Kabylie, Algeria's most successful soccer club, a brand-new stadium up to world-class standards.
Naming the stadium after one of Kabylie's greatest historical figures, Hocine Aït-Ahmed, even though he took up arms in 1963, just after independence, at the head of an army to announce Kabylie's rebellion against the central power in Algiers. Distribution of almost 1,000 housing units in Azazga, the town of Ferhat Mehenni, leader of the Mouvement pour l'autodétermination Kabyle (MAK). As if to taunt the latter.
Obviously, everything was in place in terms of security. A first contingent of 4,000 soldiers has been stationed at the "Tamda" university campus in Tizi-Ouzou for almost a week. Pending deployment of police, gendarmerie and intelligence forces. The wali (prefect) has instructed the daïra chiefs to instruct the mayors to mobilize as many people as possible. A seat on the Council of the Nation (Senate) will be awarded to the most dedicated mayor.
As announced by the sports news website Le Fennec du Football in its October 28 edition, the visit by the tenant of the El-Mouradia palace (home of the Algerian presidency) had been planned for several weeks. A most perilous visit to a region that completely boycotted the December 19, 2019 presidential election, which resulted in the appointment of Abdelmadjid Tebboune as head of state.
However, there was no reason for the President's entourage to take huge risks by scheduling a trip to a rebellious region hostile to the current regime. "Hundreds of political prisoners, including dozens condemned to death, military arson attacks on Kabyle villages and the state terrorism that has reigned there for 36 months do not argue in favor of a serene visit by the man who bears responsibility for them", as Ferhat Mehenni pointed out in a tweet posted this morning on the X platform.
However, it should be noted that Tebboune's reluctance to make this visit to Kabyle land is revealed by the absence of any communication on the subject. No official announcement has been made either by the President's office or by the Algerian press. Even journalists accredited to cover the President's trip were instructed not to talk about it.
48 hours before the President's visit, local authorities were surprised and distressed to learn that all contact with the security services and the Presidency of the Republic had been cut off since the afternoon of Thursday December 21.
They were even more surprised to learn that the 4,000 military personnel stationed at the Tamda university campus had decamped early on the morning of Saturday, the scheduled day of the visit.
Tebboune has not been seen in Algeria since Wednesday December 21.
He will not be going to Tizi-Ouzou, nor will he be attending the National Civil Society Forum, attended by all members of the government, including the Prime Minister. It is the latter who will read the speech to be delivered by the President of the Republic.
An unexplained absence to date, just as the scheduled visit to Tizi-Ouzou remains unexplained. This leaves the door wide open to speculation, from the most serious to the most far-fetched.
