On March 19, 2019, thousands of people gathered in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, to protest against the government. The demonstrations coincided with the country's Victory Day, marking the end of the Algerian War in 1962. Protesters, including medical professionals, students, and local government officials, marched through the streets, calling for a change in the government. The protests were largely peaceful, with participants carrying signs and banners expressing their demands for a new Algeria.
Medical professionals, known as "blouses blanches," were among the largest groups of protesters. They marched from the CHU Nedir Mohamed hospital to the Place de la Bougie, carrying signs and banners that read "Système dégage" (Get out of the system) and "Algérie libre et démocratique" (Free and democratic Algeria). The medical professionals stated that they felt a duty to contribute to the construction of a new Algeria, free from the current political system.
The protests were not limited to medical professionals. Students from the Mouloud Mammeri University in Tizi-Ouzou also participated, marching through the streets and carrying signs that read "L'université s'engage, système dégage" (The university is committed, get out of the system). The students stated that they wanted a new Algeria, free from corruption and injustice. They called for respect for the voice of the people and an end to the current system.
Local government officials and employees also joined the protests, marching through the streets and carrying signs that read "Y en a marre de ce pouvoir" (We are fed up with this power) and "Non à la mafia, on veut un État de droit" (No to the mafia, we want a state of law). The officials stated that they were dissatisfied with the current system and wanted a change.
The protests were not limited to Tizi-Ouzou. Demonstrations also took place in other parts of the country, including the communes of Ifigha, Fréha, Yakouren, and Zekri. The protesters were largely peaceful, and the demonstrations were marked by a strong sense of determination and solidarity.
The family of revolutionaries, including Moudjahidine and children of Chouhada, also participated in the protests. They stated that the legacy of the martyrs had not been respected and that the current Algeria did not correspond to the one dreamed of by the martyrs. They called for a change in the government and a new Algeria.
The protests in Tizi-Ouzou were part of a larger movement of demonstrations and protests that took place across Algeria in 2019. The protests were sparked by a range of issues, including corruption, unemployment, and a lack of democratic freedoms. The protesters called for a change in the government and a more democratic and transparent system.
Key points
- Thousands of Algerians protested against the government in Tizi-Ouzou, calling for a change in the system.
- Medical professionals, students, and local government officials were among the largest groups of protesters.
- The protests were part of a larger movement of demonstrations and protests that took place across Algeria in 2019.
