The 2021 Algerian protests were a series of mass protests, nationwide rallies and peaceful demonstrations in
Algeria
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, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
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, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
against the government of
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
and the military. They were first held on the anniversary of the
2019-2020 Algerian protests, which resulted in the ousting of the government of
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, after he announced his fifth term for the
2019 Algerian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 12 December 2019. The election had originally been scheduled for 18 April, but was postponed due to sustained weekly protests against plans by the incumbent president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to run ...
. Tens of thousands have since 16 February thronged the streets, using and echoing their voices to make them heard, such as "Algeria, Free, Democratic, No Gang in Power".
Background
The preceding
2019-2020 Algerian protests were against President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika's announcement of a fifth term for the
2019 Algerian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 12 December 2019. The election had originally been scheduled for 18 April, but was postponed due to sustained weekly protests against plans by the incumbent president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to run ...
. This would result in the resignation of Bouteflika and his cabinet.
Protests
The first protests started on 16 February (the anniversary of the 2019-2020 protests) in
Kherrata
Kherrata is a town in northern Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, ...
and
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, followed by dozens of other towns and cities nationwide holding subsequent rallies; these would be referred to as the Hirak. The protest movement gained momentum when tens of thousands of protesters marched nationwide on 22 February, after 6 days of massive nonviolent anti-government protest rallies across the nation. Several protesters were draped in Algerian flags and waved other flags and used slogans, chanting against the government and president.
Tens of thousands blocked streets in the largest street demonstrations since 2019, using non-violence, and engaged into peacefulness. In
Bejaia, demonstrators was confronted by police, and was blocked off by the security forces. Protesters chanted and marched, forming chains and using placards and flags, banners and masks in the protests. Most of their demands were the same from the
2019-2020 Algerian protests, alongside calling for new elections.
The protests would be the largest in the country and the countrywide strikes and massive nonviolent strike movement, protest rallies and anti-government demonstrations and street marches would be hitting 12-16 cities and towns nationwide. President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
ordered tight police presence deputed the growing civil disobedience amid street rallies and unrest. The national movement's slogans was not the same as last time. They chanted “a civilian state, not a military state” and “the gang must go” as they brandished Berber and Algerian flags.
On Friday 26 February, protesters again poured into the streets in their thousands, protesting against the government and chanting ''Peaceful, Peaceful''. Thousands of protesters were draped in Algerian flags amidst cold weather, defying police restrictions, protesting in large numbers and crowding around the
Grand Post Office
The Istanbul Grand Post Office ( tr, Büyük Postane), or Istanbul Main Post Office, is an office building for postal services located in the Sirkeci neighborhood of the Eminönü quarter within the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was desi ...
, where police subsequently used
tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ad ...
and truncheons.
Riots broke out on 1 March in
Ouargla after protesters hurled stones at police and set fires to tyres in protest at the arrest of
Ameur Guerrache. Roadblocks and barricades was made as police fired
tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ad ...
and quelled the unrest. The protesters chanted slogans calling for his release.
For a second consecutive week, thousands of students accompanied by supporters and lecturers marched in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, defying the curfew and was blocked by police, who was present in the protests. On 2 March, shouting slogans demanding "a free and democratic Algeria" and an end to the military's domination of the North African country, up to 3,000 participated in the student-led protests, however, clashes broke out after police tried to block protesters from reaching the
Grand Post Office
The Istanbul Grand Post Office ( tr, Büyük Postane), or Istanbul Main Post Office, is an office building for postal services located in the Sirkeci neighborhood of the Eminönü quarter within the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was desi ...
and the
Casbah. In
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, tens of thousands of people took to the streets at the end of February to voice their demands for an end to corruption and despotism, and for democratic reforms and genuine political change. Thousands led student-led marches nationwide as well, with holding banners and chanting anthems, using roses and wearing flag-style masks, chanting ''Peaceful'' and slogans against president
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
and the powerful military. The Hirak pro-democracy movement intensified throughout the nation. The protesters chanted "Civilian State, Not Military, We Will Not Stop Until Our Demands of Hirak Is Met!" as thousands of student-protesters rallied in demonstrations in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
.
On Friday 5 March, rallies kicked off again as demonstrators rallied again on 5 March, protesting against the military and political elite in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, reviving the 2-year old
Hirak pro-democracy movement and calling for the entire cabinet and elite to quit power and transfer power as soon as possible, draped under the
Algerian flag
The national flag of Algeria ( ar, علم الجزائر; ber, ⴰⵏⴰⵢ ⴰⴷⵣⴰⵢⵔⵉ, Anay azzayri) consists of two equal vertical bars, green and white, charged in the center with a red star and crescent, a symbol of Islam as the ...
. Protesters chanted "Thieves, you’ve destroyed our country" and "نريد جزائر أفضل", meaning "We Want A Better Algeria". Thousands of anti-government protesters and Hirak supporters rallied as part of the weekly protests in
Kherrata
Kherrata is a town in northern Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, ...
, and other cities nationwide. Police maintained a heavy presence but didn’t interfere in the protests and rallies. The protesters chanted in the biggest protest marches in 2 weeks, chanting ''It’s either you or us''. Thousands protested and chanted anthems, waved flags and clapped in solidarity with the 2019 protests in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. The group pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and individual human r ...
has warned over the ''deteriorating human rights conditions'' as helicopters hovered around the protesters.
On 12 March, large protests was held across
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, rejecting early legislative elections announced the day before, as weekly rallies by the resurgent Hirak pro-democracy movement gain momentum. President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
announced
legislative elections
A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
for 12 June, chanting "لا انتخابات مع عصابات المافيا "و" دولة مدنية لا عسكرية ". People also took to the streets in other parts of the country, including northwestern
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
, central
Tizi Ouzou and eastern
Annaba
Annaba ( ar, عنّابة, "Place of the Jujubes"; ber, Aânavaen), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River ...
. Tens of thousands of female students now demonstrate side by side with the elderly, lawyers next to the unemployed, doctors with sanitation workers.
On 19 March, thousands protested in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
to protest for press freedom, judicial independence and improvement of freedom of expression. "Return the power to the people", protesters demanded, addressing the ruling class. Demonstrators also criticised President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
’s decision to call early elections on June 12 in an attempt to assuage the country's political and economic crisis. Tebboune has reached out to the protest movement while also seeking to neutralise it. "No elections with the mafia gang (in power)", protesters chanted. Local media reported demonstrations in several other cities, despite poor weather.
On 26 March, protesters held marches calling for reforms due to economic crisis and political tensions, students were arrested during rallies in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
. On 28 March, women and young men chanted slogans and demanded the government to release the students arrested during recent demonstrations. The students were later released.
On April 2, Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully in huge peaceful protests commemorating the ouster of former president
Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Many participants sang, brandished the
Algerian flag
The national flag of Algeria ( ar, علم الجزائر; ber, ⴰⵏⴰⵢ ⴰⴷⵣⴰⵢⵔⵉ, Anay azzayri) consists of two equal vertical bars, green and white, charged in the center with a red star and crescent, a symbol of Islam as the ...
and shouted slogans that included "No to the military state" and "We won’t stop until the Hirak wins" under the watch of police helicopters. Similar marches were organized in other cities across the country, including
Annaba
Annaba ( ar, عنّابة, "Place of the Jujubes"; ber, Aânavaen), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River ...
,
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
and
Kherrata
Kherrata is a town in northern Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, ...
. Some of the protesters in the capital chanted for the “independence of justice” and “press freedom,” a reference to journalists and activists who have been arrested and sent to trial amid the
Hirak protests. The protesters called for judicial independence as well, as of now, calling for the president
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
to resign is their main goal. Protesters rallied in front of buildings, calling for the release of political prisoners as well.
On April 18, firefighters in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
demonstrated over the president
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
’s social policies. On April 25, civil protection personnel marched in uniform to the Algerian presidential palace alongside firefighters demanding increased salaries and improved housing in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
. On May 2, police fired
tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ad ...
and
rubber bullets
Rubber bullets (also called rubber baton rounds) are a type of baton round. Despite the name, rubber bullets typically have either a metal core with a rubber coating, or are a homogeneous admixture with rubber being a minority component. Altho ...
to disperse thousands of firefighters and engineers. Firefighters had gathered there to demand increased salaries and the provision of social housing, amid other demands.
Thousands of Algerians marched through the capital on 23 April, denouncing what they said were sweeping arrests of members of the
Hirak pro-democracy protest movement. A
hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke a feeling of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most ...
begun on 23 April in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
to denounce prison conditions and issues with
police brutality
Police brutality is the excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against an individual or a group. It is an extreme form of police misconduct and is a civil rights violation. Police brutality includes, but is not limited to, ...
. On 27 April, hundreds of students demonstrated in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, but forcibly dispersed by police officers.
On April 30, thousands of supporters and members of the opposition movement or Hirak Movement took to the streets of
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, testing the police over the brutal and lethal use of unnecessary force to break up demonstrations, and called on president
Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Abdelmadjid Tebboune ( ar, عبد المجيد تبون, ʿAbd al-Majīd Tabbūn; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the President of Algeria since December 2019 and as Minister of Defence.
He took over the po ...
to resign. Marches also took place in other parts of the country, including
Annaba
Annaba ( ar, عنّابة, "Place of the Jujubes"; ber, Aânavaen), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River ...
,
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
* Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...
,
Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region in northern Algeria and the homeland of the Kabyle people. It is part of th ...
,
Bejaia and
Tizi Ouzou.
Slogans
"Karama" ( ar, كرامة) is a popular slogan used among protesters, meaning "dignity". Other slogans such as "No Gang" (Arabic: لا عصابة), "Civilian State" (Arabic: دولة مدنية), "Our Demands are Legitimate" (Arabic: مطالبنا مشروعة), and "Freedom" (Arabic: حرية) have also been used. "Silmiya wa Hadi'a" (Arabic: سلمية وهادئة) is another revived slogan, meaning "peaceful and quiet". "Not a Military State, You Must Go" (Arabic: ليست دولة عسكرية ، يجب أن تذهب) is the most heard slogan during weekly protests over the last 3 weeks. "The Right to Defend Our Rights" was a slogan heard during nationwide marches on 2 March.
See also
*
2019-2020 Algerian protests
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Algerian protests, 2021
2018–2022 Arab protests
2019–2021 Algerian protests
Protests in Algeria
2021 protests
2021 in Algeria