Faith Nyasuguta
An Algerian court has sentenced three former presidential hopefuls, Saida Neghza, Belkacem Sahli, and Abdelhakim Hamadi, to 10 years in prison each for corruption related to the 2024 presidential election. The trio was found guilty of paying bribes to obtain the necessary endorsements to qualify as candidates.
In Algeria, presidential candidates must secure either 600 signatures from elected officials across at least 29 of the country’s 58 provinces or gather 50,000 signatures from registered voters, with a minimum of 1,200 per province. The court determined that Neghza, Sahli, and Hamadi circumvented this process by purchasing endorsements, violating electoral laws.
The public prosecution had requested the 10-year sentences and fines of one million Algerian dinars (approximately €6,700) for each defendant during a trial that lasted nine days. In total, about 70 individuals were convicted in connection with this case, including three of Neghza’s sons, who received sentences ranging from five to eight years for aiding and abetting and money laundering.
The three main defendants were not permitted to run in the September 2024 election, as their candidacies were dismissed by the constitutional court due to the fraudulent endorsements. Incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune won the election with 84.3% of the vote.
Neghza, Sahli, and Hamadi have been released pending appeal and have 10 days to contest the verdict. The convictions highlights ongoing efforts to combat electoral fraud and corruption in Algeria’s political system.
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