The Continuing Algerian Protests

There may be immense changes coming to Algeria in the coming months. What started as a movement to stop Abdelaziz  Bouteflika  from running for another term, has now turned into a movement to have him resign. So far, President Bouteflika has been gradually losing support from the military and even some within the FLN  leadership. The Algerian population may have a strong desire to see change and political reform, but there is the possibility of turbulence. The Arab Spring demonstrated that there are limitations to sudden sporadic movements with no specific plan to replace the former political structures. Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt have either reverted back to its authoritarian systems or deteriorated into disorder. Libya has become a place of terrorist organizations and armed groups. Algeria had been in a state of civil war, but it is uncertain if such a conflict would occur again. One of Bouteflika's achievements was to end the civil war, but it was done on the condition that Islamists were amnesty. President Bouteflika announced that he would not seek another term. However, he may not have suspected that there would be calls for his resignation. After suffering a stroke in 2013, many question his health and ability to govern. A sudden resignation could cause problems with the transfer of power in the future. Since 1999, Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been the president of Algeria and its longest head of state. The opposition must be ready to make changes if or when President Bouteflika is no longer in office. If not violence and a wave of refugees fleeing to Europe may happen. There has become a huge divide between the general public and ruling political elite  that will not simply be solved by removing Bouteflika. North Africa continues to under go political and social transformation. Algeria attempted to avoid such upheaval, but the demand for reform was too great.