Ferhat Mehenni, the president of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), in Paris, January 26, 2025. BASTIEN OHIER/HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
The suspense surrounding the venue lasted until the very last moment. Less than two hours before the beginning of the "ceremony of declaration of independence," which had been announced by the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK) well in advance for Sunday, December 14, participants received a terse message: "1:30 pm, Salons Hoche, Paris 8th."
The impact of this unilateral declaration is purely symbolic, as the Algerian authorities oppose any self-determination efforts for this region east of Algiers, home to nearly 20% of the country's population. Nonetheless, the organizers took extensive precautions in preparing for the event.
The gathering was kept secret until the day before, and shortly after the location was revealed, a prefectural order banned the ceremony, citing risks of public disorder. The organizers had to abandon the Palais des Congrès de Versailles, their initial choice, in favor of another private venue on Avenue Hoche in central Paris. By midday, law enforcement officers were stationed at both ends of the famous Parisian avenue, checking the IDs of passersby, while police were deployed at the entrance to the hall where the meeting was held.
