Algeria 09 March 2019

All signs indicate so far that another social movement will be co-opted (by the regime and the imperial powers), diverted (through a manoeuvre by the military) and if not, crushed.

"The people want the overthrow of the gangster regime"

"Leave" (one of the slogans that had been raised in the Tunisian uprising)

Algeria's angry youth (the Guardian)

and a view of an Algerian activist:

"A few thoughts on developments in Algeria as well as the way they are being represented in both Algerian and international (social) media. 

First, it goes without saying that we are living through incredibly exciting times. Just yesterday, 15 MILLION Algerians took to the country's streets and even more if we take into consideration protests taking place in solidarity elsewhere across the world. Second, it also goes without saying that for those of us who have been involved in social movements over the past several years that our optimism is always cautious- we know there are always powerful forces out there seeking to co-opt, depoliticize, de-radicalize and take advantage of the new space created by this mobilization to destabilize and infiltrate (e.g. just two days ago a US navy ship docked in the Algiers port for ‘scheduled visit’ but we know from past experience and what’s happening today in places like Venezuela, Syria, etc. that an imperial military can and will only act to further imperial interests). 

We have learned from past and ongoing revolutionary struggles (including Algeria’s own anti-colonial resistance, Palestinian liberation movement, as well as more recent regional experiences) that the battle is not only fought on the street, but also in who gets to interpret, frame, represent and narrate the popular demands (e.g. look how the dominant framings focus on the refusal of Boutaflika’s 5th mandate and silence more radical demands. This could end up serving the interests of anti-Boutaflika status quo forces).

With this in mind, let us highlight and amplify the more radical voices of this mobilization that stand on the shoulders of our ancestors- across the Maghreb/Africa, Asia, Latin America- who fought the colonizers and have continued even once the colonial militaries and administrations left to fight the forms of (neo)colonial exploitation, resource extraction and dispossession that they brought with them. 

Let us amplify the voices demanding political-economic structural transformation but rooting these claims in the solid defence of our sovereignty. Let's amplify the voices calling for cultural, intellectual and epistemological decolonization. We can only honor our mujahideen/mujahidette by fulfilling their dreams and ensuring their lights are not dimmed… It is our generation’s calling to bring their struggle to fruition and keep their torch ablaze. 

Today more than ever, I am so proud of my people."

—Brahim Rouabah, 09 March 2019