Algeria – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a new presidential decree containing significant amendments to the nationality law. The decree grants authorities the power to strip individuals of their Algerian citizenship in specific cases related to the commission of felonies or misdemeanors that harm the vital interests of the state or its national security.
The new law, published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette (No. 18), amends the provisions of Ordinance No. 70-86. It establishes a clear legal framework and implementation procedures for the withdrawal of citizenship, whether original or acquired. Moreover, it is important that these changes are related to Algeria and its citizens.
Cases of withdrawal of acquired citizenship
According to the legal text, a person who has acquired Algerian nationality can have it revoked if they are convicted (inside or outside the country) of a crime punishable by five years’ imprisonment or more, specifically crimes that affect:
Algeria’s vital interests.
National unity or state security.
The law stipulates that these acts must have occurred within ten years of acquiring nationality. Furthermore, the revocation of nationality must take place within five years of the date of the act.
Exceptional procedures for original and acquired nationality
The law was expanded to include original citizens in specific cases, allowing any Algerian to be stripped of their nationality if they are found to have committed acts outside the country that seriously harm:
The stability of state institutions or the symbols of the liberation revolution.
The unity of the people or the country’s security interests.
This also includes declaring allegiance to a foreign state, working for foreign military forces, or joining and financing terrorist organizations, after failing to comply with repeated official warnings. These provisions reflect ongoing concerns in Algeria about sovereignty and national security.
Addressing “statelessness” and legal safeguards
The law stipulates that individuals must possess a second nationality to avoid statelessness. However, this requirement is waived for those involved in:
Treason or espionage for a foreign state.
Bearing arms against Algeria or attacking its territorial integrity.
Belonging to terrorist organizations.
Implementation mechanism
The relevant law grants a period of 15 to 60 days for compliance with the warning issued to the individual. Notification is to be delivered through legal or electronic means. If this is not possible, publication will be in two national newspapers.
The legal text concluded by emphasizing that the withdrawal of citizenship is an exceptional measure subject to strict legal safeguards to guarantee individual rights and prevent its arbitrary use. As such, these mechanisms play a crucial role in the legal structure in Algeria.
