On the 12th consecutive Friday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, defying the scorching heat to demand the departure of the current system. The demonstrators, comprising young and old, men and women, individuals and families with children, gathered from all corners of the wilaya. They claimed the cause was worth fighting for. The march commenced at 1:30 PM from the Hasnaoua campus entrance, with the majority of protesters waiting at the roundabout above.
The protesters followed their usual route from the campus to the Place de la Bougie. The slogans and chants remained largely unchanged, with a strong emphasis on rejecting the July 4 elections. Protesters carried signs and banners reading "No to Bensalah's elections," "No vote, no election," and "There will be no elections, understand?" The demonstrators also insisted on the imperative departure of the three B's: Bensalah, Bedoui, and Bouchareb. The army chief was not spared from criticism.
The protesters in Tizi-Ouzou demanded a transition period leading to a second republic, rejecting the transition process via Article 102. Their banners and signs read "No to a clan-like transition," "We want a people-guided transition," "Listen to the people's voice," and "It's up to us to decide." The protesters also called for a democratic transition, with some signs stating "The transition will happen with or without you, if necessary against you" and "Down with the gang system."
The recent wave of arrests and statements from General Gaid Salah, head of the army, sparked further reactions from the protesters in Tizi-Ouzou. Some banners read "The army must accompany the people in their revolution, not circumvent it" and "Enough of this power." The protesters also chanted slogans such as "Allah Allah Ya Baba Djina Nahhou Laissaba" and "Klitou Leblad Ya Saraquine."
The protesters expressed their demands for a free and independent judiciary, with some banners reading "No to a justice on orders" and "Yes to a free and liberated justice." The demonstrators also criticized the current power, with signs stating "Yethasbou Ga3" and "No to selective justice." The protesters called for an end to what they described as a predatory system.
The protests in Tizi-Ouzou also targeted the ruling party, the FLN, with demonstrators calling for its departure. The protesters demanded a state of law, free from oligarchs, and an end to what they described as a system that had done worse than colonialism. The protests were marked by a strong sense of determination and frustration.
The protests in Tizi-Ouzou reflect a broader movement across Algeria, with demonstrators demanding fundamental changes to the country's politics and institutions. The protests have now entered their 12th week, with no signs of abating. The situation remains tense, with the government yet to respond to the protesters' demands.
Key points
- The protesters in Tizi-Ouzou are demanding the departure of the current system and rejecting the July 4 elections.
- The demonstrators are calling for a transition period leading to a second republic and a free and independent judiciary.
- The protests have now entered their 12th week, with no signs of abating.
