Life after Bouteflika

In the wake of peaceful protests, a frail-looking Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria since 1999, announced that he would not stand as a candidate in the forthcoming elections. In my piece for The Times of Malta (30.III.2019), I look at what this move may mean for Algeria and for the region:

"Given the complete mismanagement and mishandling of the so-called “Arab Spring” – a misnomer if there was ever one – we need to begin making uncomfortable questions about the future of Algeria and its implications on the Mediterranean region and Europe.

The first question should concern the aftermath of Bouteflika’s departure. Will Islamists exploit any potential vacuum of power? Will the tensions which left more than 150,000 people dead over a decade in the 1990s resurface?

The second concerns the involvement of groups extraneous to Algeria; will movements based outside Algeria try to influence the situation within Algeria?

Such questions are not merely academic. The experience of the “Arab Spring” shows that other groups can soon hijack demands for greater democratic participation. The result was an unfolding humanitarian crisis and political instability."

The full piece may be read on The Times of Malta website by clicking here.