Topic: Algerian Opposition

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Algerian author Said Khatibi (image: private)

Algeria – wasteland for Arabic literature

Big Brother is watching you

In May 2023, Algerian author Said Khatibi won the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Award in the young author category for his historical crime novel "Nihayat al-Sahra'" – in English, 'the End of the Sahara'. Claudia Mende caught up with Khatibi in Abu Dhabi for Qantara.deMore

English in Algerian schools and universities: What's the best language option for Algeria?Human rights in Algeria: Banned, intimidated, driven into exileRemembering Mohammed Dib: The grand seigneur of French-language Algerian literature
University of Algiers (image: picture-alliance)

English in Algerian schools and universities

What's the best language option for Algeria?

Recent government decisions to expand English language instruction in Algerian schools, though seemingly educational in nature, are only the latest developments in a longstanding national dispute. By Abu Bakr Khaled Saad AllahMore

France's colonial legacy: Algerians turn away from FrenchRemembering Mohammed Dib: The grand seigneur of French-language Algerian literatureKamel Daoud’s novel "Zabor": Algeria and a patriarch's dying throes
Rally for press freedom in Algeria, September 2020 (image: Louiza Ammi/abaca/picture-alliance)

Human rights in Algeria

Banned, intimidated, driven into exile

Algeria's civil society is once again being targeted by the authorities. With the judicial dissolution of the human rights league LADDH, yet another human rights group critical of the government has been shut down – the outlook could hardly be worse. By Sofian Philip NaceurMore

Human rights and migration: Why older Algerians risk the small boats to SpainThe EU's diplomatic dilemma: Morocco and Algeria square off over Western SaharaAlgeria at 60: No more lethargy – Algiers’ passive foreign policy is over
French-language daily Liberte was discontinued last week, three decades after its founding. The editors bid farewell with the title: "Thank you and goodbye" (photo: Ryad Kramdi/AFP)

France's colonial legacy

Algerians turn away from French

An increasing number of government ministries in Algeria are announcing they will abandon French in future. They may be reacting to the mood among the population, but the move is also deliberate. By Dunja RamadanMore

Book fair in Algiers: Habib Tengour and the "Poems of the World"Moroccan school curricula: French, Arabic, Moroccan, Amazigh?France, terrorism and identity politics: Emmanuel Macron's determination to pick the wrong battle
Detained for days in assembly centres: Algerian Muslims in Paris on 20 October 1961 (photo: picture-alliance)

Sixty years after the Paris Massacre

When will France apologise to the Algerians?

Shot, beaten to death or drowned: a demonstration by tens of thousands of Algerians ended in the "Paris Massacre" on 17 October 1961. Sixty years on, historians and victims' associations are calling for a sign from President Macron. By Andreas NollMore

Interview with Benjamin Stora: The bitter legacy of past Franco-Algerian relationsFrance and the 50th anniversary of Algeria's independence: A pact against memoryBook review: Joseph Andras′ ″De nos freres blesses″: A shameful chapterSixty years since the beginning of the Algerian war: National fronts?
Algerian voters in Tunisia arrive to the Tunisian Embassy of Algeria to cast their votes ahead of the early general elections scheduled for 12 June, in the capital Tunis, Tunisia on 10 June 2021 (photo: Yassine Gaidi / Anadolu Agency)

Democratic disappointments in Algeria

How can the Hirak meet Algerians' democratic needs?

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

Interview with human rights activist Rabah Arkam: Algeria's protesters continue their "Revolution of Smiles"Algeria: how the Hirak fared in 2020: Protestors still calling for genuine democracyDemocracy in the Maghreb: Tebboune's 'New Algeria' looks a lot like the old Algeria
Algeria: Young people protest against an ossified system (photo: picture-alliance/abaca/L. Ammi)

Book review: Kaouther Adimi’s "December Kids"

Algeria's younger generation rebels

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

Interview with human rights activist Rabah Arkam: Algeria's protesters continue their "Revolution of Smiles"Kamel Daoud’s novel "Zabor": Algeria and a patriarch's dying throesLiterature and collective trauma in Algeria: Moving beyond the examination of historyDemocracy in the Maghreb: Tebboune's 'New Algeria' looks a lot like the old Algeria
Algiers: protests against the Algerian president (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Batiche)

Interview with human rights activist Rabah Arkam

Algeria's protesters continue their "Revolution of Smiles"

The coronavirus pandemic brought mass pro-democracy protests in Algeria to an abrupt end. Exploiting the distraction engendered by the health crisis, the new Algerian government has launched a crackdown on opponents and activists. Can the new constitution be instrumental in bringing about change? Elisa Rheinheimer-Chabbi spoke to Algerian-American human rights activist Rabah ArkamMore

Algeria: how the Hirak fared in 2020: Protestors still calling for genuine democracyDemocracy in the Maghreb: Tebboune's 'New Algeria' looks a lot like the old AlgeriaFirst anniversary of the Hirak movement: The jury's still out on Algeria10 years of Arabellion: The buds of the Arab Spring
People protesting in Algiers on 21 February 2020, before the spread of Coronavirus hindered protests in Algeria (photo: Reuters/R. Boudina)

Algeria: how the Hirak fared in 2020

Protestors still calling for genuine democracy

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

Democracy in the Maghreb: Tebboune's "New Algeria" looks a lot like the old AlgeriaCOVID-19 consequences: Coronavirus halts year-long protests in AlgeriaFirst anniversary of the Hirak movement: The jury's still out on Algeria
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Democracy in the Maghreb

Tebboune's 'New Algeria' looks a lot like the old Algeria

Algeria's recent referendum was a thinly veiled attempt to hijack the agenda of the country's popular Hirak protest movement. Yet the people are no longer willing to accept ageing leaders who rely on a veneer of democracy to maintain their rule. Legitimacy will only be achieved by genuine structural reforms. By Dalia GhanemMore

COVID-19 consequences: Coronavirus halts year-long protests in AlgeriaFirst anniversary of the Hirak movement: The jury's still out on AlgeriaArab Spring 2.0: The Middle East's fearless protesters
Mass demonstration in Algiers against the country's ruling elite (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

COVID-19 consequences

Coronavirus halts year-long protests in Algeria

Exploiting the coronavirus emergency, Algeria’s ruling classes have ramped up their repressive campaign against the protest movement, opposition and free media. By Sofian Philip NaceurMore

First anniversary of the Hirak movement: The jury's still out on AlgeriaArab Spring 2.0: The Middle East's fearless protestersUnpopular presidential elections: Algeria stands at a historic crossroads
Protest in Algiers on 12 December 2019 (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

First anniversary of the Hirak movement

The jury's still out on Algeria

Few would have thought that Algeria's Hirak protest movement would still be mobilising the masses 12 months on from its first peaceful demonstration. According to Isabelle Werenfels and Luca Miehe, the systemic change people hoped for post-Bouteflika has yet to materialise. External players need to brace themselves for ongoing political turbulenceMore

Unpopular presidential elections: Algeria stands at a historic crossroadsArab Spring 2.0: The Middle East's fearless protestersDemocracy movements in the Arab world: Look to Sudan, Algeria!
Algerians protesting the election of Tebboune as the new President of Algeria on 13.12.2019 (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Arab Spring 2.0

The Middle East's fearless protesters

The upheavals of the past year in the MENA region are arguably as momentous as those of the Arab Spring in 2011. Yet perhaps the biggest difference is that our interest seems to have evaporated. Why? Essay by Jannis HagmannMore

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid: Democracy cannot be stoppedUnrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottleMilitary dictatorships in the Middle East: The real enemies of the Arab Spring
Demonstrators protest on the streets of Algiers against army commander Gaid Saleh on 20 November 2019. Placards read “He says he is for the protesters, but in fact he intends to preserve the status quo”, “They all must go: Gaid Saleh – Two faces of the same regime” (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Bensalem)

Unpopular presidential elections

Algeria stands at a historic crossroads

Algeria's political impasse has been going on for weeks. Attempts to calm the public mood by sacrificing some of the Bouteflika faithful has only served to fuel demonstrators' demands that all such remnants of the old guard be rooted out. Whether there is an election or not, the crisis seems set to continue, writes political analyst Ali AnouzlaMore

Military dictatorships in the Middle East: The real enemies of the Arab SpringInterview with Algerian opposition leader Soufiane Djilali: Political crisis in Algeria – is compromise in sight?Revenge is not the answer! Prosecuting tyranny in the Arab world
Algerian opposition politician Soufiane Djilali during an anti-Bouteflika demonstration on 24.02.2019 in Algiers (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Interview with Algerian opposition leader Soufiane Djilali

Political crisis in Algeria – is compromise in sight?

Presidential elections or constitutional assembly? Algeria's opposition continues to argue over ways to overcome the crisis. A proposal by the Jil Jadid party could finally break down the entrenched fronts. Sofian Naceur spoke to its leader, Soufiane DjilaliMore

Democracy movements in the Arab world: Look to Sudan, Algeria!Algeria after the postponed elections: The closing window for changeCivil society and democratic transition in Algeria: Algerian activists demand a place at the table
Protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to run for a fifth term (photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Algeria after the postponed elections

The closing window for change

For more than four months now, protesters in Algeria have been urging a clean-up of the country's politics and a new constitution. But how realistic is change given the military's iron grip on power? By Dalia GhanemMore

Civil society and democratic transition in Algeria: Algerian activists demand a place at the tableMass anti-president protests in Algeria: No more Bouteflika!Algeria′s disillusioned majority: Desperately seeking voters

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