Protest rallies continue in Algeria

Protests against the Algerian government, which led to the removal of long-time Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, have continued. A Cardboard held by a protester read: “We are not here to celebrate, we are here to demand your departure.”

The recent wave of protests marks two years since Algerians moved against the re-election of the former president. The protests took place in different parts of Algeria. 

The protests started after Bouteflika planned to retain his post 

The protests began on the 22nd of February 2019 after the former president expressed his plan to run for another term after spending 20years in power. The president was removed after weeks of non-protests made him announce that he was stepping down from power. 

The protesters did not stop their rallies after he stepped down. They are now demanding a complete change to Algeria's political system. They are also protesting against the Algerian military and the power they hold over the country. 

An election was conducted in December and a new president, Tebboune, was elected.  

There has been no change in other government positions

According to protesters, the removal of the former president is not enough as his former officials are still in power. In a bid to gain the protesters' trust, Tebboune promised he was going to change members of the government.  

Some of the officials that were retained include Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad and Justice Minister Belkacem Zeghmati. Zeghmati is seen as a prominent anti-protest supporter that has sent many protesters to prison. The new president also signed a law that removed power from the Algerian parliament. 

Zaki Hannache, an Algerian activist, said the president's attempts to meet protesters' demands are not enough and.  

“The reshuffle doesn’t interest me, it’s the same old people. The same thing with parliament, the new ones [deputies] will work, as the current regime, for their interests, not for the people,” he added.