Event Summary
According to several press publications, Algerian economist Djelloul Slama “disappeared” for a fortnight after an alleged arrest on 24 January 2026, before being remanded in custody by the Dar El-Beïda (Algiers) Magistrates’ Court on 5 February 2026. The charges are not made public in the article, but the detention is presented as potentially linked to his media appearances criticising the official narrative on “flagship” economic projects, notably the exploitation of Gara Djebilet such as contested profitability, costs and technical constraints related to phosphorus.
This case has sparked reactions in the public sphere where it is seen as a deterrent to expert and critical voices and as an indicator of restrictions on freedom of expression and public debate on economic policies.