Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

Saturday's historically low election turnout was a reflection of Algerians' ongoing frustration with the political status quo. Faced with mounting state repression, however, the likelihood of the Hirak evolving from popular protest movement into a significant opposition force appears slim. By Ilhem RachidiMore

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, disappointed by the European Union’s reluctance to integrate Turkey into its ranks, has re-directed his country’s diplomacy toward the Maghreb and Africa to expand Turkey’s sway in the Mediterranean, writes Dalia GhanemMore

Since February 2019, millions of Algerians have been demonstrating against the government. They first took to the streets to demand more democracy and protest the renewed candidacy of former authoritarian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.More

EU parliamentarian Dietmar Koester criticises the Union's failure to speak up when faced with human rights abuses committed by its Middle Eastern allies, while pointing out that its own isolationist migration policies contravene fundamental European values. Interview by Ismail AzzamMore

In her third and most recent novel, Paris-based Algerian author Kaouther Adimi writes almost prophetically about a rebellion by a handful of children against the rigid and outdated system in her home country. Claudia Kramatschek read the book for QantaraMore

Mass protests began in Egypt on 25 January 2011. They triggered the overthrow of long-time ruler Mubarak. Ten years later, many human rights activists and journalists are in prison. The Sisi regime is far worse, observers sayMore

Algeria has not found peace since Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was president for 20 years, resigned under massive public pressure in April 2019. On 1 November 2020, the government held a constitutional referendum to end the political crisis. But things did not work out as it planned. On the contrary, the rifts between the regime and the pro-democracy movement have deepened further. The opposition now wants to use the momentum from the latest wave of protests to better organise itself. By Sofian Philip NaceurMore