Algeria. Next of the dominoes? Day of rage Feb 12

[zahir]

Students are getting an early Spring break.

Algeria sends students home amid protests

 

[zahir]

Algerians begin general strike against Bouteflika's rule

Algerians have begun five days of general strike as protests against the rule of the ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, entered a new phase. Shops across the country were closed and groups of workers gathered in the streets brandishing flags and signs objecting to Bouteflika’s attempt to serve a fifth term in office. Social media posts implored citizens to enact civil disobedience and refuse to attend their jobs for the rest of the working week.

“You have a date with history,” said the national syndicate for electricity and gas workers, which represents employees of the national gas company Sonelgaz and has declared its allegiance to the strike. “Now is the time for all free workers to participate in this movement,” it said.

Despite the government’s efforts to contain the protests, some workers in the energy sector, which accounts for an estimated 30% of the country’s GDP, joined the strike on Sunday, the first day of the working week in Algeria.

Video posted to social media appeared to show employees of the state oil and gas giant Sonatrach protesting in the town of Béjaïa. The company employs an estimated 120,000 people and is considered the backbone of the industry.

 

[zahir]

 

[zahir]

Algerian president Bouteflika cancels election but promises reforms

The strikes and street protests seen in Algeria over the last couple of weeks bore fruit on Monday with the announcement that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is 82 and in poor health, will not be seeking a fifth term in office after all.

At first sight, this is a significant victory for the protesters, but there’s a catch. The official statement also postponed the presidential election scheduled for 18 April until an unspecified date. In the meantime Bouteflika will remain in office, ostensibly supervising political reforms.

 

[zahir]

Algerian protest songs

Jabal al-Lughat: Some Algerian protest songs

Jabal al-Lughat: More Algerian protest songs

 

[Mordi]

A short piece on the LRB which outlines some of the politicking going on within the regime and military. I'm entirely ignorant of Algeria's recent past so found it helpful.

 

[zahir]

Bouteflika’s tricks and promises stir renewed anger in Algeria

Protesters returned to the streets of Algeria with renewed anger on Tuesday, accusing President Bouteflika of trickery.

For a brief moment on Monday night it seemed that their key demand had been granted, and that the 82-year-old president, who is in poor health, would not after all be seeking a fifth term in office.

But it soon became clear this was not what it seemed. In renouncing his ambitions for a fifth term, Bouteflika had cancelled the presidential election due on 18 April — thus extending his current fourth term indefinitely.

 

[zahir]

Another Friday and more protests.

Algerians keep up pressure on Bouteflika with more mass protests

 

[zahir]

Algeria protests 'biggest in memory'

The BBC's Mohamed Arezki Himeur in Algiers says it is the biggest protest in memory, with people of all ages packing out the capital's boulevards.

Talks have been set up to negotiate Algeria's political future, which will be led by veteran UN diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi. A conference, which does not yet have a set date, will aim to oversee the country's political transition, draft a new constitution and set the date for elections. Mr Brahimi, who was the United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria until 14 May 2014, met the president on Monday and said it was necessary to "turn this crisis into a constructive process".

The Algerian military is expected to play an important role in the transition and is currently considering contenders for president, Reuters news agency reports. Demonstrators and participants in Algeria's 1954-1962 independence war will also be among the representatives at the conference.

Some comments on the proposed transition in this thread.

 

[teqniq]

 

[zahir]

More Friday protests

Hundreds of thousands of Algerians rally against Bouteflika | Reuters

 

[zahir]

 

[zahir]

A short BBC video that gives an idea of the atmosphere of the protests.

Algeria's youth find voice in protest

 

[elbows]

I see the regime have dumped the supreme commander of the combover, and will no doubt be hoping that this is enough to take enough wind out of the protesters sails.

Algeria's President Bouteflika resigns

 

[teqniq]

Welcome to the new Algerian revolution: an interview with Hamza Hamouchene

 

[hitmouse]

Algerian socialists appeal for solidarity as crackdown on opposition intensifies

Photo: Zoheir Aberkane via Facebook The Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH) reported on 25 May a serious escalation in the repression and violence facing the opposition to the A…

menasolidaritynetwork.com