Two Years On, Algeria’s Hirak Is Poised for a Rebirth

Exactly two years ago, residents of Kherrata, a nondescript town several hours' drive east of the Algerian capital, marched in protest against plans to prolong the rule of Algeria's president—and with it the era of corruption, waste, and repression he embodied. Days later, on February 22, 2019, their anger inspired millions of Algerians across the country to take to the streets, launching months of mass demonstrations for fundamental political change.

The frustration and indignities that inspired that movement, which became known as the hirak, are the subject of my forthcoming book, The Algerian Dream, to be published later this year.

Last year, protesters paused the hirak due to the pandemic, but as Algeria marks the movement's second anniversary, its root causes are as pervasive as ever, making its resurgence all but certain. This morning, protestors began marching in Kherrata once more, presaging a new phase for the movement, as I argue in a retrospective on Algeria's hirak published today at the Atlantic Council's MENASource blog.

I invite you to read the full article here: "Two years on, Algeria’s Hirak is poised for a rebirth."