Fires in Algeria: the government is looking for culprits among the separatists
A woman helplessly witnesses the progression of a gigantic fire in the region of Chefchaouen, Morocco, on Sunday, August 15.
AFP - FADEL SENNA
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
While the fires are not yet completely under control, the Algerian government is looking for culprits.
Since the start of the crisis, the authorities have claimed that these fires are of criminal origin.
They are now pointing the finger at a Kabyle independence network considered terrorist in Algeria.
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The General Directorate of National Security accuses an independent network of being the author of the fires, but also of the assassination of Djamel Ben Ismaïl.
This young man wrongly accused of being an arsonist and
lynched by a crowd
near Tizi Ouzou.
The story of Djamel Ben Ismaïl shocked the whole country.
Coming to help his native region in the face of the fires, he was savagely killed last week by a crowd who mistakenly believed him to be the cause of the fires.
The Algerian authorities have announced the arrest of 61 suspects in this case.
Concerns over a political turn of the trial
These people are suspected of having participated in the homicide and immolation of the body of Djamel Ben Ismaïl.
According to the authorities, some of these suspects admitted to belonging to a Kabyle independence organization, the Movement for the Self-determination of Kabylia (MAK).
This organization is banned on the territory and classified terrorist by the Algerian government.
The Algerian League for Human Rights has expressed concern that the trial of the assassination of Djamel Ben Ismail becomes a political trial.
Because at the same time, the government points the finger at "
a criminal network classified as a terrorist organization
" as the source of the fires in recent weeks.
This time, the authorities do not quote the MAK but refer directly to it in their press release.
►Also listen: Calls on the news - [Your reactions] Algeria devastated by fire: the government in the hot seat
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