Thousands demonstrated in the center of the Algerian capital on Friday and in a number of states during the 109th march of the popular movement, raising slogans calling for real change and the guarantee of freedoms.
After the Friday prayers, large crowds of demonstrators left the Bab al-Wad and Belouizdad neighborhoods, reaching the weekly starting point in the Central Post Square.
The demonstrations renewed slogans rejecting the regime and against a number of security agencies, while others raised slogans rejecting the division of the popular movement.
The moves also renewed the rejection of the electoral process after the Algerian authorities summoned the electoral commission in preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for next June.
The demonstrators demanded a "free and independent press," and urged the authorities to "liberate justice and the media," and chanted slogans, including "Restore power to the people" and "peaceful", in reference to the peaceful nature of the unprecedented movement that erupted in February 2019.
The protesters also demanded that the link be cut off with the practices of the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Reuters)
Among the slogans raised by the demonstrators, "The response to the demands of the movement is what builds a new, true Algeria."
According to the protesters, the desired "comprehensive change" is to sever the link with the practices of the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika through fair elections, the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression and the press, and the effective opening of the political field.
Security presence
An intense presence of police and their vehicles was observed in several neighborhoods and streets of the capital, and their deployment along the course of the demonstrations.
Activists and social media users also monitored pictures and videos of several marches in eastern cities despite the rainy weather, such as Constantine, Skikda and Jijel.
Marches also took place in the states of Bejaia, Tizi-Ouzou and Bouira (center), in addition to Oran (west).
Activists called the demonstrations "the 109th Friday of the Harak", indicating that it was an extension of the movement that began on February 22, 2019.
Supporters of the movement demonstrate in the thousands every week since the second anniversary of its start, after a year of stopping due to the Corona crisis.
On February 22, thousands of Algerians took part in demonstrations to commemorate the second anniversary of the popular movement, after days of measures Tebboune announced to "calm the street," according to observers.
Among those measures are the dissolution of the National People's Assembly, the call for early legislative elections, set for June 12, an amnesty for dozens of detainees during the movement, and a partial government change.