Soufiane Djilali — Algerian Politician and Founder of Jil Jadid
Soufiane Djilali was born in Blida on 16 September 1958. A veterinary doctor turned political leader, he founded the Jil Jadid movement in 2012 and ran for president in 2014. He was also Algeria's show jumping champion in 1975.
15 November 2025
Soufiane Djilali was born on 16 September 1958 in Blida, Algeria. Coming from an established family with deep intellectual and religious roots, he went on to become one of Algeria's most recognized opposition political figures.
Family and Education
His uncle Abderrahmane Djilali was a renowned Algerian theologian and historian — an influence that shaped his analytical and principled approach to public life.
Djilali attended prestigious institutions in Algiers before earning a veterinary doctorate from the University of Algiers in 1982. He subsequently conducted postgraduate research at Pierre-et-Marie-Curie University in Paris, collaborating with the Pasteur Institute and publishing scientific articles on retrovirus biology and immune system development.
A Champion in the Saddle
Before his political career, Djilali excelled as an equestrian. He became:
- Algeria's show jumping champion in 1975
- Maghreb regional champion in 1978
Political Career
Djilali served as secretary-general of the Algerian Renewal Party before founding the Jil Jadid (New Generation) movement in 2012 — a centrist, reformist political party advocating for democratic governance and institutional modernization.
He launched a presidential campaign in 2014 but withdrew after the incumbent announced intentions to seek a fourth term.
Legacy
Soufiane Djilali represents a strand of Algerian political thought that combines scientific rigor, civic patriotism, and reformist ambition. Born in Blida, he has spent decades arguing for a more democratic and accountable Algeria.