Algeria - April 2023

On 13 April, the Parliament of Algeria approved legislation that restricts foreign funding and ownership of media outlets and further interferes with the work of journalists. The law’s concerning provisions include: prohibiting Algerian media outlets from receiving foreign funding and materials; forcing journalists to reveal their sources when ordered by a court; forbidding Algerians with dual nationality from being shareholders in media companies; and making insults to foreign heads of state and diplomats a fineable offence.

According to the Algerian Minister of Communications, the law aims to “enshrine freedom and pluralism of the press”. However, the legislation has been condemned by several watchdog organizations as an escalation of crackdown on media freedom in Algeria. The new law was approved 11 days after prominent journalist and government critic, Ihsane El-Kadi was sentenced to five years in prison, accused of receiving foreign funding after he was arrested in December 2022.

Sources: Jeune Afrique, Reuters, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International