Algerian Court Sentences Three Former Presidential Candidates to 10 Years for Electoral Fraud

TDT | Manama

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Prominent businesswoman, ex-minister among those convicted for forging candidacy support

An Algerian court on Monday handed down 10-year prison sentences to three former presidential hopefuls after convicting them of electoral fraud related to last year’s presidential election, according to a judicial source.

Among those sentenced are Saida Neghza, a well-known businesswoman; Belkacem Sahli, a former government minister; and Abdelhakim Hamadi, a lesser-known political figure. The trio was found guilty of illegally securing signatures required to qualify as candidates for the presidential election held in September 2024.

The court determined that the accused had paid for endorsements, a direct violation of Algeria's electoral laws, which mandate that presidential hopefuls collect a minimum number of genuine citizen or official signatures to stand for election.

This case is part of a broader effort by Algerian authorities to uphold transparency and accountability in the political process, especially following public demands for reform in the wake of the 2019 protest movement that ousted long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.