| People protest to demand political change and the departure of the ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria April 12, 2019. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina |
Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied in Algiers for an eighth successive Friday to demand the departure of the ruling elite, witnesses said, as Algeria prepares for a presidential election in July.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down from 20 years in power 10 days ago, bowing to pressure from the army and weeks of demonstrations mainly by young people seeking change in the North African country.
But protests have continued as many want the removal of an elite that has governed Algeria since independence from France in 1962 and the prosecution of what they see as corrupt figures.
Bouteflika has been replaced by Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the upper house of parliament, as interim president for 90 days until a presidential election on July 4.
“No to Bensalah,” the protesters chanted, marching peacefully in the centre of Algiers where mass protests broke out on Feb 22.
Reuters correspondents at the scene estimated the crowd size at hundreds of thousands of people as on previous Fridays, although there was no official count.
“We want the prosecution of all corrupt people” and “no to the gang”, banners held up by people said. Many protesters waved Algeria’s white, green and red crescent moon flag.
One of them, who gave his name as Nawal, told Reuters: “We came out today to say that Bensalah’s position is unconstitutional.”
“We do not deserve military rule. We deserve a democratic and free Algeria.”
52-year-old grocer Ali Badji, holding his son on his shoulders, said: “We are still sticking to our demands. We want a radical change.”
State television said similar marches took places in most cities.
On Wednesday, Algeria’s army chief, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaed Salah, said he expected to see members of the ruling elite close to Bouteflika, which he called “gang”, prosecuted for corruption and said he would support a transition toward elections.
More than one in four people under the age of 30, some 70 percent of the population, are unemployed – one of the central grievances of protesters who want the economy liberalized and diversified to reduce its reliance on its oil and gas production.
The army monitored the unrest from the sidelines. Then Salah intervened, declaring Bouteflika – rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 – unfit to rule.
REUTERS