The spectre of mass protests – known as the Hirak- is haunting the Algerian military regime as the country reels under an economic crisis that it failed to cover using diplomatic and ideological indulgences. The Algerian people brace to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Hirak that put an end to Bouteflika’s rule nears on Feb 22. Human Rights activist, Zaki Hannache, estimates the number of prisoners of free speech, currently in jail on charges of “terrorism”, at 228 at least. The Algerian regime which brags about defending Palestine, has ironically banned any pro-Palestinian protests following the war in Gaza, going as far as banning fans from football stadiums. Algerians “are now voiceless, badly represented by a furious regime that has no weight at the international stage,” Wrote L’orientXXI last week.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 12, 2024 11:37 UTC