The marches of the pro-democracy movement of Hirak in Algeria were marked on Friday April 2 by demonstrations across the country, according to human rights organizations. This Friday marks the 111th Friday of popular mobilization launched in February 2019 to contest the candidacy of Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth term.
Two years after its outbreak and the advent of a new president at the head of the country (badly elected, it should be remembered), Algerian citizens continue to pound the pavement to demand a radical change of the system and the establishment of ‘a rule of law and the return to barracks of the soldiers who are far from making the good weather in Algeria. Simultaneously, at eleven thirty, the 111th popular mobilization march (Hirak) was launched in Algiers, Bejaïa, Annaba, Skikda, Oran, Constantine and the wilaya of Bouira as soon as the Friday prayers ended.
Thousands of demonstrators took part to reiterate their demands including “a civil status and not a military one”And“a free and democratic Algeria”. In Algiers. As usual, several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the Errahmna mosque on Khelifa Boukhelfa (ex-Victor Hugo) street to start their march. Once the kick-off was given, the human procession set off towards rue Didouche Mourad in the direction of the Grande Poste. Throughout its historic journey the crowd has grown.
As usual, therefore, Algerian citizens do not give up. The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) reported “Of arrests in several wilayas and in particular in Algiers”. In addition, the police tried to disperse the demonstrators by using violence and by using in places, liquid gas spray, in particular in Oran as well as in the neighboring town of Mostaganem. Marches also took place in Tizi Ouzou, Bouira and Béjaïa, cities of Kabylie (north-east), as well as in Constantine according to images posted on social networks. The demonstrators chanted the historic Hirak slogans: “ Rule of law and independent justice “, “Civil and non-military status”, for the “demilitarization” of the regime, and “Silmiya! “(Peaceful), in reference to the non-violent character of the Hirak born in February 2019.
They also denounced the organization of early legislative elections on June 12, so desired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. “No election with the gang of mafiosi (in power)”, also chanted the protesters. Since February 22, Algerians have resumed the Hirak marches descending by the thousands every week on Tuesdays (students) and on Friday pounding the pavement in the streets, despite the ban on all gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
