Hichem Aboud
Hichem Aboud | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1955 Bab El Oued, Algiers, Algeria |
| Occupation(s) | Political activist, journalist |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Known for | Founder and editor-in-chief of Mon Journal; political activism and journalism in Algeria |
Hichem Aboud (, born 15 June 1955) is an Algerian political activist and journalist. He established and led as editor-in-chief the bilingual French-Arabic newspaper Mon Journal (). In 2013, Algerian authorities prohibited the publication following its reports on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's health condition. By 2023, Aboud's YouTube channel had gained over 613,000 subscribers.
Early life
Aboud was born into a Chaoui family in Bab El Oued, Algiers. In 1975, he enlisted in the Algerian People's National Army. Three years later, in 1978, he obtained a diploma from the Institute of Political Science and Information at Algiers 1 University.
Career
Aboud started his journalism profession in 1977 as a freelance contributor to Jeunesse Action and La République. He later took on the role of bureau chief in Algiers for El-Hadef, a sports-focused publication.
In 1979, he was appointed editor-in-chief of El-Djeïch, the official magazine of the People's National Army. By 1987, Aboud became chief of staff to Mohamed Betchine, head of Algeria’s military intelligence agency. During this period, he also wrote for El-Hadef under an alias. He exited military service on 16 October 1992.
He launched El-Acil, an independent newspaper covering Eastern Algeria, which was banned in 1993 due to its governmental critiques. After moving to Constantine in 1994, he started Le Libre; this outlet was shut down after five months because of its critical stance toward the military and government. In 1995, Aboud served as Algiers correspondent for Le Quotidien de Paris but had his press credentials revoked by Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After receiving political asylum in France in 1997, Aboud authored The Mafia of Generals (La Mafia des Généraux) in 2002, unveiling the Algerian government as a "political and military mafia." While residing in France, he founded two magazines: Racines d'Outre-Méd (2004) and Repères Maghrébins (2009). He gave up his refugee status and returned to Algeria in 2011.
Upon returning, Aboud established Mon Journal (2011), which was banned after publishing an article about Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s coma and hospitalization in France. He was subsequently prohibited from leaving Algeria following a conviction for "undermining national security." On 10 August 2013, Aboud escaped to France via Tunisia; an associate was detained for allegedly aiding his flight. He currently lives in France with a ten-year resident permit.
In 2018, Aboud launched Amel TV based in Switzerland but broadcasting from France through IPTV and satellite; it declared bankruptcy within the same year due to financial difficulties. Additionally, he started the YouTube channel "Aboud Hichem TV" in May 2018.
In February 2020, a court in Tébessa sentenced Aboud in absentia to ten years imprisonment for "illegal immigration" linked to his 2013 departure. In April 2021, a Chéraga court handed him a seven-year sentence for "disclosing confidential information" about Khaled Nezzar and an associated Swiss arrest warrant. A Bir Mourad Raïs court issued an arrest warrant accusing him of involvement with the Rachad movement, labeled a terrorist organization by Algeria. An international arrest warrant was also issued; however, France has declined extradition requests.
These legal actions triggered protests across Algeria where crowds expressed support for Aboud as a free journalist. In February 2022, his name appeared on Algeria’s official list of terrorist entities but was removed from the government website the following day. Aboud denies all charges leveled against him.
Kidnapping incident
In 2022, Aboud reported being the victim of an assassination attempt in Brussels and initiated legal action against those he accused. In October 2024, upon his arrival from Brussels at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, he was abducted by two individuals wearing masks. Several days later, the Guardia Civil located and freed him in Lebrija, where he was discovered bound inside a boat on the Guadalquivir, approximately 900 km away from Barcelona. Authorities apprehended two suspects linked to the kidnapping.