In July 2026, the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Algerian exiles in France are seeking “concrete guarantees” and a general amnesty before considering a return to Algeria. The report highlights a growing tension between the Algerian government and its diaspora, particularly those who left the country during or after the Hirak protest movement that began in 2019. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, these exiles—many of whom are entrepreneurs, academics, and former activists—fear legal repercussions if they return, despite President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s repeated calls for the diaspora to contribute to Algeria’s economic development.
The demand for amnesty is not new, but it has gained urgency in recent months as Algeria intensifies its economic outreach to its diaspora. In 2025, the Algerian government launched the “Diaspora Investment Fund,” a $500 million initiative aimed at encouraging Algerians abroad to invest in startups, real estate, and industrial projects back home. The fund offers tax incentives, simplified bureaucracy, and guarantees against expropriation. However, potential investors remain hesitant. A survey conducted by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in early 2026 found that 68% of Algerians in France cited legal insecurity as the primary reason for not returning or investing in Algeria.
The legal risks are not hypothetical. Since 2022, Algeria has targeted lawyers representing Hirak activists, with at least 15 attorneys facing disbarment or criminal charges, according to The Arab Weekly. In June 2022, the government froze the assets of three lawyers accused of “undermining state security,” a move that sent shockwaves through the diaspora. One of the lawyers, Mustapha Bouchachi, a prominent human rights advocate based in Paris, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “without a clear amnesty, no one with a history of activism will risk coming back, let alone investing.”
The economic stakes are high. Algeria’s diaspora in France alone is estimated at 2.5 million people, with an annual remittance flow of $2.1 billion in 2025, according to the Bank of Algeria. However, these funds are largely sent as personal transfers rather than investments. The government’s goal is to channel this capital into productive sectors. In 2025, Algeria introduced a “Golden Visa” program, offering residency permits to foreign investors who inject at least $100,000 into Algerian businesses. Yet, as of mid-2026, only 12% of applicants were Algerians from France, with the majority coming from Gulf countries.
The amnesty demand is also tied to broader political reforms. In 2024, President Tebboune announced a constitutional revision that included provisions for “national reconciliation,” but critics argue the measures are too vague. The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH), based in Algiers, has called for a truth and reconciliation commission, similar to South Africa’s post-apartheid model, to address past abuses. So far, the government has not responded to these calls.
For entrepreneurs in the diaspora, the lack of legal clarity is a dealbreaker. Karim Benali, a Paris-based tech entrepreneur who founded a fintech startup in 2020, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he would consider expanding to Algeria if the government offered “ironclad guarantees” against arbitrary arrests. “I have friends who were detained for months over social media posts,” he said. “No investor will put money into a country where the rules can change overnight.”
The Algerian government has taken some steps to reassure the diaspora. In 2025, it established a “Diaspora Business Council” under the Ministry of Economy, tasked with addressing the concerns of Algerian entrepreneurs abroad. The council’s first report, released in March 2026, recommended the creation of a “legal shield” for returning investors, including immunity from prosecution for past political activities. However, no concrete measures have been implemented.
The standoff reflects a broader dilemma for Algeria’s leadership. On one hand, the country needs foreign investment to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, which still account for 90% of export revenues. On the other, the government remains wary of political dissent, particularly from the diaspora, which played a key role in organizing Hirak protests from abroad. In 2023, Algeria passed a cybercrime law that criminalizes “fake news” and “attacks on national unity,” a move widely seen as targeting diaspora activists.
The economic potential of the diaspora is undeniable. Algerians in France own an estimated 15,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a combined annual turnover of €3 billion, according to a 2024 report by the French National Institute of Statistics (INSEE). Many of these businesses operate in sectors where Algeria seeks to develop local capacity, such as renewable energy, agribusiness, and digital services. However, without legal protections, these entrepreneurs are unlikely to relocate or invest in Algeria.
The government’s outreach efforts have also been hampered by bureaucratic hurdles. Despite the “Diaspora Investment Fund,” many Algerians abroad complain of slow processing times and opaque decision-making. In 2025, the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) launched an online portal to streamline investment applications, but a survey by the Algerian Business Leaders Forum found that 72% of users still faced delays of six months or more.
For now, the ball is in Algeria’s court. The diaspora’s demands are clear: amnesty, legal protections, and a commitment to political reform. Without these, the government’s economic overtures risk falling on deaf ears. As one Algerian-French investor put it to Asharq Al-Awsat, “Algeria has the market, the talent, and the need. But no one will bet on a country where the rules are written in sand.”
Key takeaway for entrepreneurs
Algeria’s $500 million Diaspora Investment Fund offers tax breaks and streamlined bureaucracy, but legal risks deter many Algerian entrepreneurs in France. Without amnesty for exiles or guarantees against arbitrary prosecution, diaspora investments will likely remain limited to remittances rather than job-creating ventures. Entrepreneurs should monitor the government’s response to the amnesty demand before committing capital.
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