Since the fall of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April 2019, Algeria has been relentlessly pursuing billions of dollars in diverted funds. This international hunt, spanning some 30 countries, highlights significant disparities in the cooperation received from various partners. While Switzerland demonstrates exemplary collaboration, France has adopted a much more defensive stance, hindering cooperation and creating a troubling contrast with its selective expulsion policy of Algerian nationals.
Switzerland Extends a Helping Hand: “The People’s Money Must Return to the People”
During his visit to Algiers, Swiss Minister of Justice and Police Beat Jans reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to assisting Algeria in recovering embezzled funds transferred abroad. He met with his Algerian counterpart, Lotfi Boudjemaa, Minister of Justice.
Jans stated, “Switzerland is determined to cooperate with Algeria for the restitution of diverted funds. We can help the Algerian state recover the people’s money.” This declaration perfectly encapsulates the core objective: returning what rightfully belongs to the Algerian people.
Switzerland’s robust legislation on asset freezing and the restitution of illicit funds is a significant advantage for Algeria. The country has established legal mechanisms to freeze and recover illegal assets, aligning with global efforts against money laundering and corruption.
Algeria has provided Switzerland with several specific cases, including those concerning former Minister of Industry Abdeslam Bouchouareb and former Minister of Energy Chakib Khelil. According to a statement from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, Beat Jans emphasized that “the restitution of blocked assets of illicit origin is a decision made by independent judicial authorities,” underscoring the technical, legal, and apolitical nature of this cooperation.
Algeria Modernizes its Regulations to Facilitate Fund Recovery
Alongside its judicial diplomacy, Algeria has modernized its legal framework to streamline the recovery of diverted funds. A new measure introduces an amicable settlement option for embezzlement cases, allowing authorities to recover funds without lengthy and costly trials.
To enhance the effectiveness of this strategy, a proposed reform includes the creation of a national agency for managing seized, frozen, or confiscated funds. This agency will be responsible for administering assets derived from financial crime.
The French Case: A Mix of Protection and Selective Expulsion
France’s attitude stands in stark contrast to Switzerland’s. The case of Abdeslam Bouchouareb perfectly illustrates this inconsistency. French justice has issued a definitive unfavorable opinion on the extradition of the former Minister of Industry, sought by Algerian justice. The decision was based on “exceptionally serious consequences” that the extradition of the 72-year-old former minister could have due to his age and health. This ruling comes despite severe convictions: Abdeslam Bouchouareb has been sentenced five times to 20 years in prison in separate corruption cases in Algeria. Algeria had submitted six extradition requests to French justice, all of which were rejected.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has highlighted a “total absence” of judicial cooperation from France, despite existing agreements between the two countries on the matter. This Algerian stance reflects understandable frustration at what is perceived as protection afforded to figures from the former regime.
Adding to the paradox, this protective stance coexists with an aggressive expulsion policy targeting Algerian influencers. In recent months, several Algerian influencers have been arrested and expelled for content deemed threatening on social media.
This double standard fuels growing resentment. The contrast is striking: a former minister convicted of corruption can invoke health reasons to remain in France, while Algerian content creators are deemed threats and unceremoniously sent back to Algiers.
A $30 Billion Stake in Justice
The figures reveal the scale of the challenge. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reported “the recovery of more than 30 billion dollars in diverted funds, including cash, real estate, and industrial units,” during his address to the nation. The head of state specified that “the work continues to recover funds diverted abroad” and that “a number of European countries have expressed their willingness to return the diverted funds to the people.”
For Algeria, this is about delivering justice to the Algerian people, who were plundered for two decades. In this context, every dollar recovered represents a victory against impunity and a step toward rebuilding a transparent state.
