Elaine Mokhtefi, activist linking Algerian Revolution and Black Panthers, dies at 97

Elaine Mokhtefi, an American activist who served as a vital link between the Algerian Revolution and the Black Panther Party, has died in New York at the age of 97.

During the era of decolonization, Mokhtefi acted as a facilitator and liaison for the Algerian government in Algiers. Her work involved navigating complex diplomatic channels and translating, which helped establish the Black Panthers’ international section in the Algerian capital. Her life was defined by her involvement in global liberation struggles, connecting various revolutionary factions seeking support and refuge in Algiers following Algeria’s independence from France in 1962.

Born in 1928, Mokhtefi’s political convictions were shaped by witnessing segregation and poverty in the United States. Shortly before her death, she was granted Algerian citizenship via presidential decree.