The president said Monday he would withdraw his candidacy, but angered protesters by de facto extending his fourth term indefinitely. While this has long prevented people from taking to the streets, the current protests show they are now pushing back against the all-powerful state. The violent repression of protests is unlikely, as police have appeared overwhelmed in the face of such vast crowds. Such incidents have been notably rare given the sheer size of the protests, and volunteers in Algiers have cleaned up the streets following demonstrations. There is currently no indication that authorities will seek a violent end to demonstrations, particularly given the global attention on Algeria.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 18, 2019 00:11 UTC