Algeria’s Hirak movement members suspended their protests in early March over the outbreak of the coronavirus. But the arrest of activists continued, giving the authorities the chance to “settle scores” with demonstrators.
“The campaign of arrests that we have witnessed in the past month reflects the political system’s concerns over a protest comeback after the end of the pandemic,” Walid Saghouan, an activist residing in the capital’s southern suburbs, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“It also reflects the government’s failure to manage the health crisis,” he said. “The number of (Algeria’s) coronavirus cases and deaths is the highest in Africa and the Arab world.”
The demonstrators are demanding wholesale changes in the political establishment, including the departure of the entire ruling elite and the army’s withdrawal from politics.
The protests forced the ousting last April of Abdelaziz Bouteflika after 20 years as president, and the arrest of many senior figures on corruption charges.
However, “it has become obvious that holding protests each Friday and Tuesday is not enough,” political analyst Zeineddine Ghbouly told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“The question now is not if the Hirak will make a strong comeback, but in which forms it will return,” he said.
He expected the protest movement to either put more pressure on the authorities or to slowly dissipate. “It all depends on its ability to organize.”
“Its chances to come out in force hinge on preparations it has to make during the period of suspension of demonstrations,” Ghbouly added.
According to the analyst, Algerians continue to suffer from lack of freedoms and are aware that an end to their campaign would result in decades of dictatorship.
