Algeria’s political crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied peacefully in Algiers on Friday to call for the departure of Algeria’s ruling elite. They gathered outside the capital’s emblematic post office headquarters, shouting, “You looted the country, thieves!”, reported France 24.
The long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down after 20 years in power this month amid pressure from the army and weeks of demonstrations by protestors. Bouteflika has been replaced by Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the upper house of parliament, who will continue to remain as interim president for 90 days until a presidential election is conducted on July 4.
The people of Algeria, who are demanding for a complete radical change, are calling out Bensalah and all other members of the ruling elite, mostly associates of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to quit. They are demanding the removal of the remaining Bouteflika allies popularly referred to as the Bs including Noureddine Bedoui, who remains prime minister in what protesters call a government of shame.
“We want this system to leave and all the thieves to be judged,” said one of the protestors.
The latest protests followed the sackings of a string of senior regime officials and the detention of some of the top businessmen of Algeria. Earlier this week, Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour, the head of the vast state oil firm Sonatrach, was also fired and replaced on the orders of Bensalah.
Issad Rebrab, one of the richest men in Africa, as well as four brothers from the influential Kouninef family, close to Bouteflika’s brother Said, were also arrested earlier this month over alleged non-compliance with state contracts.
Former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and current Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal, two close aides of Bouteflika, are currently under investigation for misuse of political funds.
The arrest comes after army Chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah called on prosecutors to speed up corruption probes into those with ties to Bouteflika’s inner circle. He said that the military was considering all options for how to resolve the situation.
