Event Summary
On July 8, 2025, the Council of the Nation unanimously adopted two major bills that significantly reshape the country’s security and legal landscape. The first, the General Mobilization Act , authorizes the armed forces to enter a state of war with presidential approval and mandates the compulsory participation of public institutions, businesses, and citizens. Non-compliance is criminalized, introducing severe penalties for refusal to cooperate. On the same day, the Council adopted a reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which expands the powers of the security services and the public prosecutor, particularly in cases related to state security. The reform also reinforces the use of pre-trial detention, raising concerns about due process and judicial oversight.
Together, these laws form a legislative duo that consolidates a framework of exception and establishes a new model of security and judicial governance widely regarded by civil society as repressive. Their adoption signals a shift toward a securitized state apparatus, creating a vulnerable context for civil society that warrants close monitoring, as these laws could be weaponized in the future to suppress dissent and restrict civic space. Civil society organizations issued this statement .
An in-depth legal analysis of the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, co-authored by various actors, is needed. Consideration should be given to additional advocacy actions (legal, diplomatic, media, etc.) and this mobilization should be integrated into the preparation of the shadow report for the mid-term review of Algeria’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR).