Skip to main content

Algerian general strike underway

Protesters are angered by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's decision to stand for a fifth term despite rarely being seen in public

ALGERIANS started a five-day general strike against the government today as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika returned after two weeks’ treatment in a Swiss hospital.

Protests were widespread as teachers, students and public-sector workers walked out and transport ground to a halt in most major cities.

The protesters are angered at the 82-year-old’s decision to stand for a fifth term despite rarely being seen in public since a 2013 stroke left him seriously incapacitated.

On Friday the largest demonstrations in 28 years took place as tens of thousands joined protests. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds and 195 people were arrested by the security services.

The National Union for Electricity & Gas Workers (Snateg) told Mr Bouteflika: “You have a date with history” as it urged all free workers to join the five-day general strike.

General secretary Abdelkader Kouafi said: “Let's make this date the beginning of a new era in [Algerian oil company] Sonelgaz. Let’s all go out without fearing police or administrative sanctions or threats, to support and chant with the people.

“No to overriding the law. No to the fifth term … Bouteflika’s era is past, and any threat to workers will be judged in the very near future.”

Algeria is the world’s sixth-largest gas exporter. The country’s energy market makes up 30 per cent of gross domestic product and more than 95 per cent of export earnings.

Strikes in this sector represent a major challenge for the government.

Despite the company opposing the strike, union members at the state mining company Sonatrach, which employs about 120,000 people, were seen joining the walkout at the Hassi Messaoud and Hassi Berkine oilfields.

Opposition parties gathered over the weekend to thrash out plans for a peaceful transition of power as elections scheduled for April draw closer.

The Trotskyite Workers’ Party urged the government to “respond favourably to the people and stop this process, which contains every danger,” or it would be held responsible for the ensuing chaos.

The ruling FLN released a statement declaring that it was “in the process of working with all the political actors to find a way out of this crisis with the least cost to the national interest.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today