Citizens have mobilized in response to the news that ruling president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is running for yet another term in April’s elections. In a meeting of parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia blamed outside “manipulation” for instigating demonstrations, warning further unrest may turn Algeria into another Syria. He currently leads the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN), which has ruled Algeria since independence in 1962. The conflict that took 200,000 lives was triggered by the first competitive multiparty election held in Algeria in 1991. The Algerian army may choose to return to the barracks in the face of further popular unrest rather than help to repress protests.

Source: Washington Post March 02, 2019 09:56 UTC