Tens of Thousands Demonstrate in Algeria Against Bouteflika's Re-election Bid

Tens of thousands of Algerian citizens protested on Friday, March 1, against Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of Algeria, who has announced his candidacy for a fifth term in the country's presidential elections. According to a Reuters report, police clashed with protesters in the capital, Algiers, and state television reported that several people were injured in the clashes. The flood of demonstrators took to the streets after Friday prayers, calling for Bouteflika's peaceful withdrawal. Protests against Bouteflika's re-election bid began last week, but Friday's demonstrations were the largest yet against his decision to run for president. Protests were also held in the provinces of Setif, Bouira, Skikda, Laghouat, Tizi Ouzou, and M'sila. The 81-year-old Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and has rarely appeared in public since, having not given a speech in years. He has ruled Algeria for 20 years and intends to seek a fifth consecutive term. Reuters adds that for years, most Algerians have refrained from openly engaging in political matters due to fear of security institutions, or have completely abandoned politics. Since Algeria's independence from France in 1962, the same generation of veteran politicians has ruled the country. Bouteflika has been president since 1999 and considers ending a decade of armed rebellion by Islamist groups as his achievement. The people of Algeria have tolerated the ruling political system for decades as the price for achieving peace and stability. However, it seems that a new wave of protests has broken the old taboo surrounding political discussions in public forums. According to Bouteflika's opponents, he lacks the health necessary to lead the country and, in fact, his advisors govern in his name. However, the government claims that Bouteflika, despite having not appeared in public for years, still personally holds power.