On 5 July 2025, Lounis Saïdi, Secretary General of the National Federation of Rail Transport Workers (UGTA), was placed in provisional detention by Algerian authorities. His arrest occurred just days before the planned national strike scheduled for 7 July, which had been officially announced on 25 June. The strike aimed to protest violations of trade union rights, irregularities in retirement bonuses, discriminatory practices, and the lack of dialogue with state authorities. Following Saïdi’s detention, the federal office of the union declared the strike “null and illegal” on 6 July, citing procedural non-compliance under the law on collective disputes.
The arrest and subsequent suspension of the strike highlight ongoing tensions between trade unions and the state over the right to freedom of association and collective action. The detention of a union leader ahead of a lawful strike may have a chilling effect on civil society actors, signalling increased risks for those engaging in advocacy or dissent, and undermining trust in institutional mechanisms for dialogue and dispute resolution.