Tens of thousands yesterday marched in Kabylia asking for official status for the Tamazight language and for self-determination, as Kabyles were marking the anniversaries of the Amazigh Spring and the Black Spring. In the demonstrations organized by the Movement for Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK) in Tizi Wezzu (Tizi Ouzou), Bejaia and Tuvirett (Bouira) alone, more than 100,000 people marched, according to organizers. The event was used to hoist the new Kabyle flag for the first time in Kabylia.

In addition to the MAK demonstrations, another one was organized by the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) in Tizi Wezzu. Besides, a concentration was convened by the Socialist Forum (FS, an FSS splinter group) also in the Kabyle capital.

All protests coincided in the request to have Tamazight recognized as an official language in Algeria. According to the Algerian Constitution, Tamazight is recognized as a "national language", but not as an "official" one, this category being set aside for Arabic only.

Tamazight's several varieties -among which Kabyle and Chaouia- are spoken by at least one quarter of Algeria's 40 million-strong population.

MAK demands "the establishment of a Kabyle state"

If official status for Tamazight reached consensus in all marches, MAK's demonstration standed out as the only one asking for Kabyle self-determination. Other Kabyle-based parties -RCD, FS and FSS- do not share this stance, as they continue to share the view of a united Algeria where Arabs and Amazighs enjoy equal rights.

In an interview to TSA, MAK President Bouaziz Ait Chebib recalled that his party's goal is "the establishment of a Kabyle state," the "exact nature" of which should be decided by "the Kabyle people via referendum." MAK foresees two possible outcomes: a Kabyle state federated with Algeria or a fully independent state.

The claim for self-determination is quite new in MAK's political stance. Until recently, the party was only demanding autonomy. "Self-determination is not a choice but a requirement of history," says Ait Chebib, given that "after having fought for the advent of a pluralistic and democratic Algeria for over 50 years, we need to face Algerians' indifference, who do not share the same aspirations or the same values as the Kabyle people."

(Image: a moment of yesterday's marches / Photo by Siwel.)