Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has appealed to young Algerians living abroad in irregular and vulnerable conditions to return home, promising legal amnesty and social reintegration. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Tebboune said the state would regularise the status of youths who left Algeria illegally, including those who committed minor offenses in their host countries. A government statement said many of them were “misled and exploited to act against their own country” and are now living in poverty, separated from their families and working in degrading conditions.
The measure could affect tens of thousands of young Algerians who have migrated illegally in recent years. According to the International Organization for Migration, about 54,000 Algerians moved to Europe between 2020 and 2024, many through dangerous and unauthorized routes. Under current Algerian law, illegal exit from the country carries penalties of up to six months in prison and a fine. The proposed presidential decree would waive legal proceedings for returning youths who pledge not to repeat the offense. However, the amnesty does not apply to individuals involved in serious crimes, including violent offenses, drug or arms trafficking, or collaboration with foreign security services deemed harmful to Algeria.
