How Algeria’s Military Regime Flips Critics Into Loyalists: The Example of Moncef Aït Kaci

Moncef Aït Kaci, once a journalist detained for his work with foreign media, has publicly emerged today as a vocal supporter of the military regime of Algiers. His public statement about the #أنا_مع_بلادي (“I am with my country”) campaign, which he claims it promotes national unity in a “sensitive phase”, illustrates a deeper phenomenon: the military regime ability to 1) flip former opponents, and 2) use them to promote alternate reality propaganda to reshape public perception and control dissent.

Screen capture of Moncef Aït Kaci social media post on 20 December 2024

A Flipped Journalist
Aït Kaci, once an emblem of journalistic resistance, was arrested in 2020 and detained for alleged collaboration with foreign media (France 24) without proper accreditation, a charge criticized by the U.S. Department of State, Reporters without Border and many others, as politically motivated. His prosecution, which included accusations of receiving foreign funding and undermining national interests, highlighted Algeria’s ongoing repression of independent journalism.

Moncef Aït Kaci, once detained by the military regime of Algiers, has now shifted allegiance, seeking repentance and rehabilitation from the very regime that once held him captive.

Today, Aït Kaci took to social media to promote the military regime-backed hashtag, portraying it as a spontaneous initiative calling for solidarity and vigilance against external threats. In his post, he framed the campaign as a patriotic effort to defend Algeria’s unity during a “sensitive period,” aligning with military regime official state narratives.
Aït Kaci’s shift is as a textbook example of how individuals publicly demonstrate loyalty to the Military Regime of Algiers, after periods of conflict with its authority. Repentance often involves embracing regime-aligned rhetoric and participating in state-supported propaganda campaigns. In this case, shielding the military regime of algiers from the ripples of the Assad’s Syrian regime fallout, and the leak of intelligence documents showcasing counter-revolutionary strategies and legal frameworks advisory to the Syrian Intelligence General Directorate, by Mohamed Mediene and Chafik Mesbah.

Aït Kaci joins a growing list of journalists and public figures, artists, and influencers, who amplify the regime’s messaging after facing legal or social consequences. Participation in such initiatives is often seen as a necessary step toward regaining favor with authorities and reclaiming public legitimacy.
Aït Kaci’s social media post portrays the hashtag as a spontaneous, grassroots movement calling for solidarity against unnamed enemies, which of course it is misleading and cannot stand the simple fact-checking we made. The campaign aligns closely with the government’s narrative, which seeks to construct a version of reality that discourages critical thinking and political engagement. Others, view the campaign as a government-orchestrated effort to suppress dissent by channeling public discourse into patriotic displays.

Repentance for Rehabilitation
Moncef Aït Kaci’s case underscores the broader dynamics of press suppression and public compliance in Algeria. The regime has consistently used legal and administrative tools, such as accreditation denials and prosecutions, to marginalize independent journalists. Public displays of allegiance, like Aït Kaci’s, often follow periods of legal or professional hardship, suggesting a tacit quid pro quo: repentance in exchange for rehabilitation.

The Alternate Reality Propaganda
Algerian propaganda operates in two distinct categories. The first is alternative propaganda, which constructs an entirely fabricated version of reality by feeding the audience carefully crafted falsehoods designed to persuade them of events that never occurred: Algeria is the third economy in the world, Putin is the friend of humanity, Algeria is ranked third in prosperity index etc. The second is post-truth propaganda, aimed at fostering apathy and inaction within the population. This approach seeks to convince people that the truth is unknowable, discouraging them from engaging in political discourse. Rather than debating facts, it simply asserts that no one can truly know what happened, effectively shutting down discussion and promoting widespread disengagement.

Examples of When Did These Two Propaganda Types Occur
In 2024, Algeria is currently experiencing a phase of alternative propaganda by the military regime of Algiers, marked by a blatant denial of reality similar to regimes like North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela. State television disseminates narratives that citizens are expected to accept without question: Algeria is the third economy in the world, Putin is the friend of humanity, Algeria is ranked third in prosperity index. Any form of critical thinking or even mild criticism is equated with dissent, betrayal, or treason, and immediate legal action is taken to jail them, thus achieving two goals: silencing them and discouraging others from speaking up.
Between 1992 and 1999, and during the second and third terms of President Bouteflika, the country was dominated by post-truth propaganda, epitomized by the infamous “qui tue qui” (“who is killing whom?”). This strategy paralyzed logical thought, suggesting that the truth was unknowable: “We don’t know who’s killing; we can’t know; there’s no way to know,” creating an atmosphere of resignation and silencing public discourse. During Bouteflika’s third term, this evolved into a new form of manipulation, with media outlets like Ennahar TV promoting sensationalist content centered on witchcraft, social crime, and low-quality yellow journalism. This strategy was designed to anesthetize and numb the population, discouraging critical engagement and deterring collective social action.

The Two Faces of Algerian Propaganda: Reality Denial and Truth Paralysis

This illustration highlights the dual strategies of Algeria’s military regime propaganda. Reality Denial: constructs fabricated narratives to control public perception and silence dissent, while Truth Paralysis: sows confusion to suppress critical thinking and disengage citizens. Each type targets specific audiences through media actors, reinforcing the regime’s grip on power.

Aït Kaci’s social media post is Alternative Reality Propaganda
Aït Kaci’s social media post portrays the hashtag as a spontaneous, grassroots movement calling for solidarity against unnamed enemies. Yet, the hashtag serves with the military regime’s narrative, which seeks to construct a version of reality that discourages critical thinking and political engagement.

Screenshots of various counter-revolutionary and counter-narratives relayed by military regime of Algiers social media propaganda

The #أنا_مع_بلادي hashtag reflects a strategy of alternate reality propaganda, where the regime crafts a fabricated understanding of events to influence the public. It’s not about convincing people of a specific truth but about saturating the information space with carefully curated messages that reinforce loyalty while suppressing dissent.
This type of propaganda feeds the audience falsehoods wrapped in patriotic rhetoric, such as suggesting that the campaign emerged organically when its fingerprints are unmistakably tied to the regime’s broader messaging apparatus. The goal is to create a reality where questioning the narrative becomes not just discouraged but irrelevant.

The Misleading Role of Moncef Aït Kaci, and why he is a Propagandist
Aït Kaci’s transformation from a journalist advocating for press freedom to a pro-regime voice is a textbook example of how individuals can become vehicles for these strategies. Whether by coercion, survival instinct, or personal choice, his participation lends credibility to the regime’s constructed reality. By aligning with the hashtag, Aït Kaci amplifies messages of unity and vigilance, subtly reinforcing the idea that questioning the regime is synonymous with disloyalty to the nation. His statement is an echo chamber, a broader push to equate patriotism with compliance with the military regime, further marginalizing dissenting voices.

The ultimate effect of these misleading propaganda techniques is profound. By constructing an alternate reality and undermining the concept of objective truth, the regime effectively neutralizes opposition. Citizens are left feeling isolated, confused, and powerless to challenge the narrative.

History will record that individuals like Moncef Aït Kaci, Abdou Semmar (alias Ilyas Aribi), Saïd Bensdira, Mohamed Larbi Zitout, and others have played a role in sustaining the military regime in Algiers. Through varied narratives and tailored rhetoric, they appeal to diverse audiences: Abdou Semmar (alias Ilyas Aribi) to French-speaking pro-active algerians, Mohamed Larbi Zitout to Arabic-speaking Islamists, and Moncef Aït Kaci to the cool, trendy youth of Algiers. When viewed individually, each one appears to hold contradictory values, missions, and visions that seem irreconcilable, making it unlikely for them to align as a cohesive group. However, collectively, they serve the same purpose: disseminating the regime’s misleading propaganda. Despite their differences, they contribute to crafting an alternative reality designed to solidify the military regime’s grip on power.

Par Abderrahmane Fares.