Algerians stage huge protest despite Bouteflika vow not to run

A disabled woman holds a placard reading "I walk for a better Algeria" as Algerians demonstrate during the first Friday rally since President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he would not via for a fifth term, March 15, 2019. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Men, women and children converged in a festive atmosphere on the landmark Grand Poste square in Algiers calling on the 82-year-old not to cling to power after scrapping an April presidential poll.
  • The latest rallies were the first major test of whether President Bouteflika has calmed public anger with his surprise announcement on Monday that he would not stand for a fifth term but was cancelling the upcoming election.
  • Mr Bouteflika, who uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, has promised a "national conference" to carry out reforms.

ALGIERS,

A huge crowd of demonstrators marched through the Algerian capital for a fourth consecutive Friday to step up demands on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave, rejecting his offer not to seek re-election.

Men, women and children converged in a festive atmosphere on the landmark Grand Poste square in Algiers calling on the 82-year-old not to cling to power after scrapping an April presidential poll.

Security sources said crowd numbers exceeded demonstrations a week ago that saw tens of thousands of people across the country take to the streets.

Major protests were also held Friday in other key cities Oran, Constantine and Annaba, local journalists reported, as people nationwide vented their ire.

MAJOR TEST

The latest rallies were the first major test of whether President Bouteflika has calmed public anger with his surprise announcement on Monday that he would not stand for a fifth term but was cancelling the upcoming election.

"You pretend to understand us, we will pretend to listen to you," read a banner held aloft by the mostly young demonstrators.

Mr Bouteflika had initially sparked joy among protesters when he said he would not stand again, but his move to cancel the vote prompted accusations of "tricks" and sparked a new round of demonstrations.

He has also named a new prime minister, replacing unpopular premier Ahmed Ouyahia with former interior minister Noureddine Bedoui, who on Thursday defended the postponement of the poll.

LONGER STAY

Mr Bouteflika, who uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, has promised a "national conference" to carry out reforms.

The President said that new elections would be held "before the end of 2019", suggesting he may stay in office for months longer.

Friday's protest in Algiers was mostly peaceful but on the margins around a hundred youths threw stones at police in clashes that lasted around 30 minutes and left several people wounded.

Many demonstrators, with their banners, criticised France's stance on the political crisis in Algeria, its former colony, accusing Paris of siding with President Bouteflika.

"France, 132 years is enough, stop the interference," read one banner, referring to the era of French rule before independence. "Macron, you are too small for today's Algeria."

TRANSITION

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday welcomed Mr Bouteflika's announcement but urged Algerian authorities to organise a "reasonable" transition from his rule.

Algeria has largely avoided the turmoil unleashed by the Arab Spring uprisings that brought down rulers in neighbouring Tunisia and Libya.

But discontent, particularly among the young, turned to anger after the veteran leader announced on February 10 that he would seek another term.

Demonstrations have drawn tens of thousands for each of the last three Fridays, with smaller rallies taking place on other days.

PROTEST MOVEMENT

The protest movement has been led by students, in a country where half the population is under the age of 30 and youth unemployment has spurred anger against a government seen as out of touch.

Several demonstrators on Friday said they had travelled from the Kabylie area, 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Algiers, and spent the previous night with friends in the capital to avoid roadblocks or bus stoppages.

As at previous rallies after the weekly prayers, Algeria's ubiquitous red-white-green flag fluttered from windows and balconies of buildings leading to the city centre.

Algeria's new prime minister on Thursday sought to calm tensions ahead of the new demonstrations that could prove decisive for the protest movement.

Mr Bedoui warned at a news conference that the situation was "sensitive" in the North African country.

People "must show calm and act peacefully", he said, calling for "dialogue" to resolve the situation.

'GET OUT'

Incoming Deputy Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra has said that Mr Bouteflika's proposed national conference on political reforms should take place "as soon as possible".

"The absolute priority is to reunite the Algerians and allow them to go together towards a better future," he said. "It's not about staying in power for a few weeks or a few months more."

But El-Watan newspaper on Friday fired back with a "Get Out" message to the new leadership, charging Mr Bedoui had "ducked the real questions" facing the country.

The assessment was also harsh on social media, with one commentator in a tweet sarcastically thanking Mr Bedoui and Mr Lamamra for their "efforts to keep Algerians mobilised" for Friday's protests.

"Yesterday was the news conference of your prime minister and deputy premier, today is the news conference of the people," another critic of the regime wrote on social media.