During his speech at the Martyrs Memorial, Pope Francis exposed the Algerian regime to its contradictions. His words of truth illustrate the regime’s contradictions.
By Hichem Aboud
It was meant to be a historic moment, carefully staged to polish the country’s image. Pope Francis’s visit to Algeria, a first, was conceived as a diplomatic showcase, a communication operation aimed at projecting the image of a peaceful, open, and respectful state. However, in just a few hours, this scenario shattered, brought down by the reality of the situation and the strength of a speech that, despite its measured tone, sounded like a reminder.
A disturbing speech
In the solemn setting of the cultural center of the Grand Mosque of Algiers, Pope Francis did not mince words in front of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Without explicitly naming the regime, he nevertheless outlined it with remarkable precision.
“The authorities are called not to dominate, but to serve the people,” he declared, emphasizing a fundamental principle: “the criterion of political action lies in justice, without which there is no genuine peace.”
In a country where political arrests, restrictions on freedoms, and the closure of public space are regularly denounced, these words resonated beyond mere spiritual exhortation. They took the form of a diagnosis and, more importantly, an implicit disavowal.
The pope went further, calling for “educating in critical thinking and freedom,” to “recognize in the one who is different a companion on the road and not a threat.” A message that is hardly reconcilable with a political system based on suspicion, repression, and the exclusion of any dissident voice.
Blida: A deafening silence
As if this speech was not enough to disrupt the official staging, the papal visit was immediately overshadowed by explosions in the city of Blida, about fifty kilometers from Algiers. A garrison city housing the headquarters of the 1st military region, the military court and prison, an air base, and the school for reserve officers, as well as the Regional Technical Center for Research and Investigation (Internal Security) and other military premises. This gives the city a highly secure status.
Two explosions, described by some as attempted attacks, shook this strategic garrison city from the first hours of the visit. Yet, the authorities remained silent. More troubling was the fact that the national press, of all tendencies, ignored the event.
No confirmation, no explanation. Only a heavy silence, accompanied by unofficial denials relayed by channels close to power. A version deemed less credible in light of images circulating on social media and questions raised by international media.
This silence did not stifle the matter, it amplified it.
A double-edged strategy
For several years, the Algerian government has been trying to impose a security narrative, even going so far as to classify peaceful political movements like the MAK or Rachad, as well as journalists and influencers, as “terrorist organizations.”
In this context, the lack of communication about explosions during a major international visit raises questions. Why keep silent about an event that elsewhere would have been immediately exploited to justify a strengthened security posture?
This choice, far from protecting the regime’s image, exposed it. It revealed a deep contradiction: that of a power oscillating between the desire to control the narrative and the fear of losing control of it.
A visit that leaves traces
Ultimately, Pope Francis’s visit did not offer the Algerian regime the showcase it hoped for. Instead, it acted as a revealer.
A revealer of a gap between official discourse and reality. A revealer of a weakened system, incapable of publicly acknowledging events that inconvenience it. And, finally, a revealer of a voice from elsewhere, strong enough to shed light on what is being kept silent.
Now remains a central question: will Abdelmadjid Tebboune be able to listen to the lesson, or will he choose, once again, to ignore it?
