Algeria Cracks down on Activists in Bid to Break Protest Movement

Demonstrators chant slogans during a protest demanding the removal of the ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria July 19, 2019. (Reuters)
Demonstrators chant slogans during a protest demanding the removal of the ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria July 19, 2019. (Reuters)
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Algeria Cracks down on Activists in Bid to Break Protest Movement

Demonstrators chant slogans during a protest demanding the removal of the ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria July 19, 2019. (Reuters)
Demonstrators chant slogans during a protest demanding the removal of the ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria July 19, 2019. (Reuters)

Algeria has intensified a crackdown on an anti-government protest movement, targeting social media users in a bid to stop demonstrations resuming once coronavirus restrictions end.

Weekly protests rocked the North African country for more than a year and only stopped in March due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The "Hirak" protest movement caused the downfall of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April 2019 after 20 years in power. It has continued demanding an overhaul of Algeria's governance system, in place since independence from France in 1962.

Authorities have made about 200 arrests linked to the protests since the country's coronavirus restrictions came into effect three months ago, according to Said Salhi, vice president of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights.

"The authorities have taken advantage of the lull to arrest the maximum number of activists," he said.

Protesters are being pursued for "crimes of opinion and expression connected to posts on social media, particularly Facebook", he said, with some of their homes searched and mobile phones confiscated.

Most of the authorities' actions are based on changes to the penal code that were passed in April amid the health crisis and have been denounced by human rights activists.

'Muzzling the media'

Salhi called the moves "an irresponsible attack, verging on provocation, against fundamental human rights".

On Thursday, more than 20 opposition activists were summoned to appear in seven separate hearings, mostly in trials that had been delayed due to the pandemic.

Those accused include figures in the protest movement, political activists, journalists and people accused of mocking the regime online.

"The government doesn't believe in change, it refuses to listen to the people," lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi was quoted as saying this week in French-language daily Liberte.

"In my opinion, it is making these arrests to break the Hirak," he added.

According to detainees' rights association CNLD, 60 prisoners of conscience are currently jailed.

In a sign the government might be nervous about the public mood, several academics rushed to its defense in official media this week, accusing a "neo-Hirak" of being "in the service of a foreign plan".

But press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Algerian authorities to "stop using the justice system to muzzle the media".

"The increase in legal proceedings against Algerian journalists is extremely worrying and indicates a blatant deterioration of press freedom in Algeria," RSF director for North Africa, Souhaieb Khayati, said in a statement.

Four Algerian journalists were prosecuted or sentenced to prison this week.

Opposite impact?

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has also urged Algerian authorities to "stop using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to clamp down on press freedom".

Some of Algeria's coronavirus lockdown measures have been gradually lifted since June 7.

But gatherings, including the weekly Hirak marches, are still strictly forbidden.

Algeria has officially reported 11,385 cases and 811 deaths from the COVID-19 illness.

Provincial areas have seen sporadic mobilizations in support of detainees in recent weeks, particularly in the northeastern Kabylie region, while Algiers has remained quiet.

Defying the restrictions, protesters across the country rallied on Friday to call for the government to step down, according to NGOs and videos shared online.

The CNLD reported about a dozen arrests were made in Kabylie's Bejaia and several more in the region's other main cities of Tizi Ouzou and Bouira.

Small numbers of protesters have also been arrested elsewhere across the country, including in the northwestern city of Oran, according to the CNLD.

An anti-government coalition within the Pact for the Democratic Alternative has urged Algerians to "stay mobilized but vigilant in order to engage forcefully in the resumption of peaceful protests" when the health situation allows.

And although there were calls on social media to restart weekly protests on Friday, activists, lawyers, student associations and political parties warned of the health risks.

But instead of crushing the unprecedented, leaderless protest movement, the crackdown could have the opposite effect.

"There is a general feeling of 'hogra'" prevailing among the population, said Salhi, using an Algerian term that refers to injustice and abuse of power.

"Some are already planning to go back to the streets" despite the coronavirus risk, he said.



Mansouri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanese Pound Stable, Banks Vital for Economy

Lebanon’s acting Central Bank Governor Wassim Mansouri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanon’s acting Central Bank Governor Wassim Mansouri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Mansouri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanese Pound Stable, Banks Vital for Economy

Lebanon’s acting Central Bank Governor Wassim Mansouri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanon’s acting Central Bank Governor Wassim Mansouri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Lebanon’s acting central bank governor, Dr. Wassim Mansouri, has removed concrete barriers from outside the central bank’s headquarters on Beirut’s famous Hamra Street and reopened the museum of currency and art to the public.

The move sends a positive message, symbolizing the restoration of state authority and a step toward ending institutional paralysis as Lebanon undergoes key political and economic changes.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mansouri affirmed he is committed to leaving the central bank in better shape for his successor, once a new government is formed and key appointments are made.
He said removing the barriers reflects his efforts to restore trust after past policies deepened Lebanon’s financial and economic crises.

Mansouri has a clear message for the public: “One of Lebanon’s problems is that leaders often look to other roles instead of focusing on their current duties. My priority is to fulfill my responsibilities until my last day in office.”

“I hope my time here is temporary because appointing a permanent governor would restore institutional stability. I’ve called for this since taking office on August 1, 2023, and I stand by it today,” added Mansouri.

Rebuilding Trust

Mansouri says his mission is clear: “Rebuilding trust.” This starts with restoring the state’s authority, restructuring institutions, and improving the performance of Lebanon’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches to address the country’s five-year economic collapse.

Since stepping into the role, Mansouri has focused on restoring stability, guided by laws that ensure the central bank’s independence. He works closely with his team, emphasizing collective efforts to manage liquidity, foreign reserves, and gradual repayments to depositors.

Governance and Transparency

Mansouri has prioritized governance reforms, including making the central bank’s operations more transparent and aligning financial statements with international standards. Key steps include unifying exchange rates and insulating the bank from political interference, earning praise from global financial institutions.

Two months into his role, the Gaza war spilled into southern Lebanon, creating economic losses of up to $10 billion. Amid the turmoil, Mansouri introduced strict policies to stabilize the currency, avoid state borrowing from central bank reserves, and provide US dollar liquidity for depositors.

Despite the challenges, Mansouri’s approach has offered a measure of stability and hope for recovery during one of Lebanon’s most difficult times.

Curbing Speculation and Ensuring Stability

“We survived,” said Mansouri, reflecting on efforts to stabilize Lebanon’s currency during uncertain times.

Even as Lebanon saw positive political shifts, including the election of General Joseph Aoun as president and Judge Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate, Mansouri’s strategies prevented harmful speculation and safeguarded the Lebanese pound.

During this period, Mansouri and his team worked around the clock, injecting over 20 trillion pounds into the market and another 10 trillion pounds to meet banking needs.

These measures stabilized the currency, added $300 million to reserves, and raised total foreign reserves to $10.35 billion. Mansouri sent a clear message to speculators: the exchange rate will remain stable, and profiteering from market volatility won’t be tolerated.

Building Reserves and Looking Ahead

With reserves growing by $2 billion, Mansouri sees this as a foundation for stability. He is optimistic about future dollar inflows from tourism and remittances, particularly as Gulf visitors and Lebanese expatriates return.

“We aim to tie demand for the Lebanese pound to real economic progress, not just positive headlines,” he said, reiterating his commitment to maintaining the current exchange rate.

Addressing Depositors’ Rights

Mansouri also acknowledged the urgency of resolving the issue of frozen bank deposits. “Depositors have legitimate rights, and we need a clear plan to address them,” he said, urging cooperation among the government, central bank, and commercial banks.

Since taking office, the central bank has reviewed 1.26 million accounts, totaling $86 billion, and provided detailed data to guide repayment plans. “We’re closer than ever to a solution,” Mansouri said. “Restoring trust in the banking sector is essential for Lebanon’s recovery, and that starts with ensuring depositors regain their funds and faith in the system.”

Lebanon Avoids Financial Disruption Despite Gray List Inclusion

Lebanon’s central bank has taken proactive steps to shield the country’s financial system following the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) decision to place Lebanon on its “gray list” of nations with deficiencies in combating money laundering.

By leveraging its historical trust with global banks and showcasing the local financial sector’s strict adherence to international standards, the central bank ensured minimal disruption to transfers and credit operations, maintaining existing costs and workflows.

The FATF report, released in late October, specifically exonerated the central bank, noting it had fulfilled its obligations by issuing necessary directives. As a result, neither the central bank nor the banking sector it supervises needs to implement any of the ten recommendations the FATF outlined for state institutions, including security and judicial bodies.

Notably, the report does not include the cash economy among its required actions, which Mansouri sees as a positive signal.

“The international body overseeing financial crimes has accepted our measures for monitoring cash flows, whether through banks or physical channels,” said Mansouri.

“This reinforces trust in our financial and banking systems, and it’s a responsibility we must uphold going forward,” he added.
Mansouri emphasized that any future assistance should flow through Lebanon’s legitimate financial channels under frameworks established by the government.

“The indications are promising, and we must build on this momentum to safeguard our financial sector and attract further support,” he affirmed.