Algeria: Anti-government protests in Kabylie region June 19 /update 71

Event

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Police Headquarters in Tizi Ouzou (Kabylie region) on Friday, June 19, demanding the release of anti-government activists detained during earlier demonstrations, despite a ban on public gatherings amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The demonstrators are also demanding that the government resigns. Similar protests were reported in other regional cities including in Béjaïa and Bouïra, and also in Bordj Badji Mokhtar (Adrar province).

Further associated protests are to be expected in Kabylie and in other cities across the country over the near term. A heightened security presence is likely in the vicinity of all protests.

Context

Protests to denounce the current political system have continued despite the election of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on December 12, 2019. Demonstrators are still calling for civil and popular sovereignty and have rejected the recent presidential electoral process. The protest movement has been officially ongoing since February 23, 2019.

Algerian authorities have intensified a crackdown on the anti-government protest movement; authorities have arrested approximately 200 activists linked to the protest movement since the COVID-19 restrictions came into effect three months ago.

Advice

Individuals in Algeria are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and anticipate a heightened security presence and localized disruptions to business and transportation around protest sites.