Abdelaziz Bouteflika: portrait of a tolerated dictator

For the past 20 years, Abdelaziz Bouteflika has ruled Algeria with an iron fist, consolidating the country’s power poles within a clan made up of oligarchs, political dinosaurs and his immediate family members. In a context of political turmoil, human rights abuses have never been as rife as today, the free press has never been as restricted as today and the economy has never been as in danger as today.

Even what our western counterparts take for granted, such as being able to demonstrate, has been taken away by Bouteflika. In 2001, Bouteflika’s military forces shot Berber protesters with live ammunition killing 130, in what could easily amount to a crime against humanity; in the same year, Bouteflika banned public gatherings altogether in the capital city Algiers, making Algeria one of the most repressive countries in the world.

Over the past weeks, the regime has shown its true colours of repression and deception. When journalists arrested during a sit-in on the 28th of February were forced into white vans, they were allegedly tortured using tasers for no valid reason whatsoever, thereafter requiring medical attention.

During the 1st of March’s demonstrations, after the end of the protests, the regime is alleged to have sent out thugs, who burned cars and attacked peaceful protesters, resulting in…