Protesters shouted “the people want the fall of the regime” and “we have come to get rid of you”, referring to the country’s rulers. Less than six weeks later, he stepped down after losing the support of thethen-army chief in the face of enormous weekly demonstrations. Police were deployed around the Grande Poste in central Algiers in numbers unusual for a Saturday, as people responded to calls on social media to celebrate the first anniversary of the “Hirak” protest movement. Friday had seen the 53rd straight weekly emonstration, with Algerians flooding the streets of Algiers and numerous other cities across the country. Even as the unprecedented movement has thinned in numbers since December, protesters still turn out in droves on a weekly basis.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 22, 2020 15:56 UTC