Algeria Issues International Warrant against President of MAK

People attempt to put out a fire in the mountainous Tizi Ouzou province (Reuters)
People attempt to put out a fire in the mountainous Tizi Ouzou province (Reuters)
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Algeria Issues International Warrant against President of MAK

People attempt to put out a fire in the mountainous Tizi Ouzou province (Reuters)
People attempt to put out a fire in the mountainous Tizi Ouzou province (Reuters)

Algiers' public prosecutor Sid Ahmed Merad issued Thursday an international arrest warrant against the premeditators of Djamel Bensmain's murder in Larbaa Nath Irathen in Tizi-Ouzou, east of Algeria.

The warrants include the arrest of the president of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK), Ferhat Mehenni.

The MAK has been classified as a terrorist movement.

Speaking at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Algiers Court to discuss the details of the crime, Merad said that 29 individuals were currently on the run with the issuance of international arrest warrants against some of them.

He called on the countries where these individuals are located to cooperate to extradite them as soon as possible.

The public prosecutor announced that 83 of the 88 persons involved in the murder of Bensmail had been held in temporary detention, including a minor, three women, and 24 MAK members.

The Public Prosecutor highlighted that the investigations revealed the premeditation in the crime and its promotion to create conflict.

Investigations also revealed the existence of systematic framing of the MAK members during the incident and the role of the foreign parties.

Djamel Bensmail was killed on suspicion of his involvement in the wildfires that erupted in the region, an incident that caused great resentment and condemnation in Algeria and abroad.

Earlier, authorities released testimonies of several individuals, including MAK members, who admitted to their involvement in the murder of Bensmail from Ain Defla.

They confessed to beating the victim before dragging, killing, burning, and mutilating him at the Martyr Abane Ramadane Square in downtown Larbaa Nath Irathen.



Metro, Train Fare Hikes Strain Egyptian Families

Cairo Metro ticket prices rise starting Thursday (Ministry of Transport)
Cairo Metro ticket prices rise starting Thursday (Ministry of Transport)
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Metro, Train Fare Hikes Strain Egyptian Families

Cairo Metro ticket prices rise starting Thursday (Ministry of Transport)
Cairo Metro ticket prices rise starting Thursday (Ministry of Transport)

Sally Mohamed, a young worker in Cairo, was surprised to find that the fare for the Cairo Metro had increased from 15 to 20 Egyptian pounds during her commute from Helwan to Mohandessin on Thursday.
The new prices were being updated at the ticket counter as she bought her ticket.
On the same day, the Egyptian government raised fares for metro and train services by 25% to 33%, following a recent increase in fuel prices.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had warned of such economic measures last month, which include raising service prices through the end of next year.
The fare hikes affect Egypt’s extensive rail network, which serves over 420 million passengers annually.
The highest increase was for the lower-priced “Tahya Misr” trains, at 25%, while third-class air-conditioned and ventilated Russian trains saw a 12.5% rise.
Mohamed now faces an additional 10 pounds in daily commuting costs due to the fare increase, which amounts to nearly a one-third rise in her monthly transportation expenses.
Since 2017, Cairo Metro fares have been rising after remaining at one pound for 11 years. The fare doubled initially and has since been adjusted several times, with current prices based on the number of stations traveled.
Mohamed is worried that her salary won’t keep up with the rising costs. She fears she may struggle to afford other necessities due to the increased fare.
She’s not alone; many on social media are criticizing the frequent fare hikes, especially on X, where users have expressed frustration with the rising costs.
The Cairo Metro fare has been raised for the second time this year, following a 20% increase in January. The metro serves about 4.5 million passengers daily, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Yasser Omar, a member of Egypt’s House of Representatives, explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the fare hikes are necessary to keep services running and improve them amid global inflation.
He said the increases are part of a planned strategy to manage inflation and reduce losses for the Ministry of Transport due to the gap between service costs and ticket prices.