As the Pontiff’s visit to Algeria approaches, several international organisations are calling for an explicit stance on civil liberties.
With Pope Leo XIV scheduled to visit Algeria from April 13 to 15, multiple international NGOs have appealed to the Vatican regarding the state of freedoms in the country. In a joint letter, Human Rights Watch, EuroMed Rights, and the MENA Rights Group urged the head of the Catholic Church to place these issues at the centre of his talks with the Algerian authorities.
The initiative comes amid recurring criticism of the country’s evolving political and institutional climate.
The signatory organisations are calling on the Pontiff to look beyond diplomatic protocol and directly address Algeria’s international commitments to fundamental rights. Their campaign aims to draw attention to what they describe as a progressive tightening of public space, while advocating for a more assertive stance from the Vatican during the visit.
Their analysis places a particular emphasis on religious freedom. Several minority groups, including Protestant communities and Ahmadiyya believers, are cited as facing administrative and legal restrictions. The closure of places of worship over several years and obstacles to their legal recognition are presented as evidence of a strict regulatory framework surrounding religious expression.
In addition to these concerns, the NGOs highlighted mounting pressure on journalists, activists, and civil society actors. They pointed to judicial proceedings and recent rulings perceived as deterrents to public engagement. Practices such as travel bans (ISTN), often issued without formal notification, were cited as significant concerns regarding procedural guarantees.
Finally, the management of migratory flows was a target of specific criticism. The organisations noted the deportation of sub-Saharan migrants to Niger, which they deem insufficiently regulated by international standards, citing collective expulsions and incidents reported between 2024 and 2025.
These combined factors lend a distinct weight to the papal visit. Beyond its diplomatic significance, NGOs view this as a pivotal moment that could influence the international visibility of civil liberties in Algeria, as they await the position the Vatican chooses to adopt.
MK/AK/Sf/lb/as/APA