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WORLD NEWS Saturday 22 February 2020
Algeria on cusp of change as protest movement marks 1 year

By LOTFI BOUCHOUCHI tably Lebanon and Egypt,
Associated Press but either they did not en-
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — dure as long as Algeria's or
Algerians flooded into the were marked by violence.
streets of the capital and Algeria, a strategic partner
other cities on the 53rd of the West in fighting ter-
straight Friday of peaceful rorism, appears set on an
protests, marking the first inexorable path to change,
anniversary of their "smile analysts and activists say.
revolution" that unseated "Algeria has rediscovered
the North African nation's its unity, its dignity," said
long-time president. Samir Belarbi, 48, who spent
The revolt also swept aside more than four months in
the former ruler's powerful jail for his involvement in
entourage and struck hard the movement. "The system
at the corruption they had is collapsing, but the move-
bred. ment must go on, remain-
The unprecedented pro- ing peaceful and joyful un-
democracy movement is til the end — which is a new
still hoping toupend the Algeria."
whole political establish- Police had arrested scores
ment, even if the tens of of march participants like
thousands of protesters in Belarbi, drawing criticism
Algiers now appear less nu- In this file photo dated Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune deliv- from Amnesty International.
merous than in the weeks ers a speech during an inauguration ceremony in the presidential palace, in Algiers, Algeria. "They arrested me thinking
after Feb. 22, 2019. Associated Press they would weaken the
As weekly Muslim prayers (pro-democracy move-
ended Friday, the main Hocine Kadide, using the its booming and youthful said in an interview with ment) but it's made up of
thoroughfares in Algiers Arabic name of the move- population, know they can French Le Figaro daily pub- hundreds of thousands of
filled up with protesters ment. "We took the streets no longer ignore the citi- lished Thursday. Algerians ... and it contin-
young and old, some call- to take back power and zens they represent. He said a promised re- ues," Belarbi said.
ing for freedom for impris- give it to the people, we New President Abdelm- vamped constitution, with The spontaneous protests
oned protesters or for lead- took the streets to make adjid Tebboune, once input from outside Algeria's began with scattered dem-
ers to step aside. sure all the corrupt people part and parcel of the old circles of power, would be onstrations in several Alge-
Police, who have arrested will fall." guard, recently referred to put to a referendum and rian towns, filmed and post-
dozens of protesters over Africa's largest nation, the "blessed and peaceful could be in place by this ed on social media. These
the past year, stood watch whose powerful army has popular uprising," and on summer. led to a large demonstra-
by their vehicles. shadowed its rulers — or Wednesday announced That was not enough for tion in Algiers, the capital,
Marchers filled the streets ruled outright — in an that Feb. 22, when the some protesters, who sang, on Feb. 22, 2019. The trig-
of numerous towns, from Tizi opaque system of gov- marches began last year, took photos and kept push- ger was the announce-
Ouzou, capital of the Kab- ernance since indepen- would be a national holi- ing their demands. ment that then-President
yle region east of Algiers, dence from France in 1962, day. He has also promised "We didn't come to cel- Abdelaziz Bouteflika would
to the western port city of is on the cusp of a new era, deep reforms. ebrate the first anniversary seek to extend his 20 years
Oran. but there is no certainty "I have decided to go far of the Hirak," the crowd in office — despite a 2013
"A year after the begin- about what the future will with radical change to chanted. "We came to get stroke that had left him a
ning of the Hirak our first look like. break with bad practices, rid of you." nearly invisible leader.
demand is still there: We will Authorities in Algeria, a gas- give political life morals Pro-democracy move- Bouteflika stepped down in
make sure the entire evil re- rich nation that has failed and change the mode of ments have sprung up in April, in the protest move-
gime leaves," said protester to adequately provide for governance," Tebboune other Arab countries, no- ment's first victory.q

Ugandan activist imprisoned for insulting president is freed

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA her supporters tried to pro- attracted the attention of
Associated Press tect her from what they authorities with bold, often
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) believed was an attempt profane descriptions of al-
— A Ugandan academic to re-arrest her. Authorities leged shortcomings of the
who was imprisoned after in the East African nation Ugandan government, in-
insulting the president was sometimes re-arrest freed cluding for its failure to hon-
freed Thursday by a judge suspects by asserting fresh or a pledge to provide free
who said she had been charges. sanitary pads to schoolgirls.
wrongfully convicted. Nyanzi, who in a Face- Amnesty International
Frank Baine, a spokesman book post once described and several Ugandan
for the prisons service, said Uganda's longtime Presi- rights groups had called
Stella Nyanzi was driven dent Yoweri Museveni as for Nyanzi's unconditional
back to the maximum-se- "a pair of buttocks," was release. She has a loyal
curity prison to collect her sentenced to 18 months in following among some
belongings after the high August after being found In this photo taken on Monday April 10, 2017, Makerere Uni- Ugandans who believe she
court ordered her release. guilty of cyber harassment. versity researcher Dr Stella Nyanzi, left, gestures in the dock at has been unfairly treated
Chaotic scenes erupted The former academic fel- Buganda Road Court in the capital Kampala, Uganda. for openly criticizing the
outside the courtroom as low at Makerere University Associated Press government.q