Algeria: a year after its debut, the victories and challenges of the Hirak

Text by: RFI Follow

A year ago, Algerians took to the streets. First manifestation of an unprecedented scale, which gave birth to the Hirak movement. A year later, the walkers are still there even if the Hirak has not been formally structured and has not become an interlocutor recognized by the authorities. The challenge did not succeed in folding the system, but certain achievements are undeniable.

Publicity

The protesters' first demand was the departure of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. And today is perhaps the main victory they have obtained. The former president resigned, taking with him the concept of life presidency.

Since the protesters play the agitators, the country is caught in a permanent whirlwind . Power has been forced into a longer transition than it wished, but has not yet undergone far-reaching reform.

The status quo continues in favor of some caciques, while others, previously deemed untouchable, have been banished or imprisoned, to give wages to the popular movement. Heads have fallen symbolically and not the least, since Abdelaziz Bouteflika's very brother is sleeping in prison today .

The new elected president Abdelmajid Tebboune is however also a product of the system whose contestation no longer wants. He denies it but is reluctant to let go of the ballast. The showdown is far from over. The next few months will be decisive in determining who in Hirak or the system in place will show signs of running out of steam.

The conquest of public space

But if there is another victory which the Hirak can boast a year after its birth, it is to have allowed the Algerians to regain some possession of public space, notes our correspondent in Algiers, Leïla Beratto .

The streets of the country had not known such a crowd since independence. By demonstrating every week for 12 months , Algerians across the country allowed what seemed unthinkable a year earlier: to be together in the streets for a political demonstration.

Even if the state of emergency had been lifted, the restrictions imposed by the security services were too strong to allow any assembly. Now, the authorities' tolerance for the protests is expressed mainly on Friday. Arrests are still frequent and the security forces try every week to limit access to the capital.

Despite everything, the scale of the mobilization and the fact that it continues made the Algerians a kind of counter-power, or at least, an element that weighs in the balance of political choices. By walking the streets, the Algerians got to be listened to.

Every evening, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., there are debates. The number varies, the quality varies from day to day. But there was nevertheless a maintenance for a year, of this space of political debates.

In Annaba, residents participate in public political debate every day

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