Algerian authorities forcibly returned former parliamentarian and government critic Seifeddine Makhlouf to Tunisia on 18 January 2026, despite his status as a registered asylum seeker with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Amnesty International has stated. The organisation condemned the move as refoulement, a clear violation of international law, and called on Algeria to clarify the legal grounds for his return and ensure that no other asylum seekers face forced repatriation without a proper assessment of their protection needs.
Amnesty International highlighted that Makhlouf was denied the opportunity to challenge his return or have his risks in Tunisia properly assessed, including threats of prolonged arbitrary detention and unfair trial. Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, emphasised that Tunisian authorities should drop all charges against him, which are related solely to his peaceful exercise of human rights.
Seifeddine Makhlouf, a vocal critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied and leader of the Al Karama coalition, had fled to Algeria in July 2024 after facing arbitrary detention and prosecution in Tunisia. Following the dissolution of parliament and removal of parliamentary immunity, Makhlouf had been prosecuted and sentenced by a military court in violation of international standards prohibiting trials of civilians before military tribunals.
While in Algeria, he was imprisoned for three months for irregular entry and subsequently placed under administrative detention. During this time, Algerian authorities denied him access to UNHCR appointments to pursue his asylum request. On 18 January 2026, he was transported to the Tunisian border and handed over to authorities without notice to him or his legal counsel, effectively stripping him of his right to challenge the decision. Upon arrival, he was immediately detained to serve sentences issued in his absence. Amnesty International called for these verdicts to be quashed and for a new fair trial before an independent court.
By ignoring procedural safeguards and Makhlouf’s asylum status, Algeria effectively collaborated in repressing a political dissident in Tunisia, setting a dangerous precedent where bilateral political cooperation is prioritised over international human rights and refugee protections. Amnesty International stressed that Tunisia must ensure his right to a fair trial and protection from arbitrary detention, warning that the international community cannot remain silent while individuals fleeing persecution are returned for political expedience.
The forced return of Makhlouf occurs amid a broader pattern in Algeria of arbitrary detention and collective expulsions of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees without due process. Despite ratifying the 1951 Refugee Convention, Algeria lacks a comprehensive national asylum framework, leaving many vulnerable people without protection. Similarly, Tunisia has overseen a significant rollback of human rights since July 2021, dismantling human rights institutions and targeting political opponents. Past incidents of collaboration between the two states, such as the 2021 forcible return of Algerian UNHCR-registered refugee Slimane Bouhafs from Tunisia, underscore the ongoing risks for asylum seekers in the region.
