By V. Tiziri

( United Kingdom)–Algeria’s military regime prohibited the commemoration of the  Kabylia’s Springs of 1980, 1981, and the Bloody Massacre of 2001, in which over 130  peaceful Kabylians were murdered by the Algerian military forces for taking part in demonstrations against injustice and discrimination which Kabylia has been subjected for decades.

In the past, commemoration of the Kabylia’s Springs was allowed by the Algerian military regime – thus commemorations were held in all parts of Kabylia, many  cultural activities were carried out in cultural centers, schools and universities, including peaceful demonstrations to claim identity recognition, and economic development in Kabylia. However, after 2020, Algeria started cracking down on protesters and activists who attempt to commemorate Kabylia’s uprisings.

Faced by this arbitrary repression, Kabylia’s willingness to stand up wasn’t abated by the ongoing repression. Therefore, again this year, Kabylia diaspora maintained the commemoration abroad by organizing demonstrations and holding sit-ins. The commemoration of this year 2026 is the 1st after the Kabylia Declaration of Independence.

In the United States there were two sit-ins: one in San Francisco, the other in New York City.

In Canada, in Montréal, a rally took place on 19^th April, from Émilie-Gamelin Plaza to  Saint-Louis  Square.

In France, a huge demonstration was organized in Paris, from Nation to Republic Plaza. In the United Kingdom, Kabylians gathered at Trafalgar Square then marched. In Belfast, a Kabylian showed up and  proudly brandished the Kabylian flag.

During these demonstrations, we heard Kabylian citizens chanting and voicing multiple slogans, notably:

–       No forgiveness 

–       Algeria’s regime assassin 

–       Algeria is a terrorist regime 

–       Free Kabylia’s hostages 

–       Free Kabylia

–       Kabylia independent 

Although repression has reached a milestone in Kabylia, over 500 activists have been jailed, including 38 whom are condemned to death sentence, some courageous citizens commemorated symbolically this historic event by brandishing Kabylia’s flag in different cities or towns, by being discreet, and also by writing tags to express their solidarity and support Kabylia’s struggle against oppression that has been lasting since Algeria’s post-independence.