Amnesty International has called on Algerian authorities to reverse the recent closure of the Algiers office of SOS Disappeared, a group dedicated to addressing the issues of forced disappearances during Algeria’s internal conflict in the 1990s. This move by the authorities has sparked significant concern and criticism from international human rights organizations.
The closure, attributed to the office’s lack of formal registration according to a statement from Amnesty, was ordered by the Algiers governorate on March 12. Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director, Diana Eltahawy, described the decision as a severe impediment to ongoing accountability efforts. The group’s origins trace back to 2001 when it was formed by families seeking justice for their missing relatives during a period of heightened violence in Algeria.
Since its inception, SOS Disappeared, the Algerian arm of the Committee for the Families of the Disappeared, has faced numerous challenges from the state. Most notably, Amnesty reports that the group has been denied registration efforts, while its activities have been increasingly constrained since 2024. In May 2025, for instance, attempts to access the group’s website within Algeria were blocked, and its founder, Nassera Dutour, was denied entry to the country in July of the same year. A communication from UN special procedures underscored that these actions were part of broader limitations imposed on both the Committee for the Families of the Disappeared and SOS Disappeared.
The legal maze surrounding the closure involves Algeria’s Law 12-06 on associations, internal ministry regulations regarding foreign cooperation, and the country’s 2020 Constitution. By contrast, Article 53 of the Algerian Constitution champions the right to form associations by simple declaration, which ostensibly contradicts the stringent registration mandates imposed. Amnesty International cites Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, arguing that closing unregistered associations contradicts global standards on freedom of association.
This event is indicative of a wider crackdown on independent civic bodies within Algeria. In 2024, a report by UN Special Rapporteur Clément Voule highlighted the trend of arbitrary detentions of activists and journalists, alongside the dissolution or refusal of registration for associations. Moreover, Mary Lawlor, another UN Special Rapporteur, pointed out that out of over 137,474 civil society groups, a mere 25 are centered on human rights, thus indicating the limited civic space available in the country.
The repercussions of the office’s closure extend well beyond its immediate impact. With an estimated 150,000 casualties and over 7,000 disappearances attributed to Algeria’s 1990s conflict, the push for truth and reparations remains a pressing issue. Insight into these implications can be traced through a report by JURIST.