Following an emotional week marking two years of the Algerian Hirak – the massive social movement launched in February 2019, which brought down the former president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika – Algerians have once again taken to the streets in peaceful protests.
People across the country, and in the worldwide diaspora, marched throughout the past week, calling for meaningful reform, a civil state and political transition.
On Monday 22 February, thousands marched in the capital of Algier, and in many other cities across Algeria. The following day, student marches took place – as they had done every Tuesday before the pandemic hit – though these were repressed and some students were arrested (before being released on the same day). On Friday 26 February, there were marches in almost all cities – and the coming weeks are likely to see further demonstrations across Algeria, with potential for repression.
