Currently, many Algerians protesting a fifth term of office of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Political analyst Rachid Ouaissa, explained the motives of the protesters. Ranging far beyond the current situation.
Mr. Ouaissa, are protesting mainly young Algerians against a new candidacy of President Bouteflika. What pushes people on the road?
They protest against a political process they perceive as rude. We have a President that has not been seen for five years, has not spoken directly to the people. To do this, around are outraged about mafia-like structures around him, a mix between family, the government party, the FLN, and the parties that support the Regime. Add to that people who say the hands on the imports of Algeria – the foreign exchange. The current development will not have expected. You have misread the situation. Overall, the population in the nose of a President who is not present, and the achievements are actually is as big as the Regime.
Who are the people in the environment of the Power? From what circles you come from?
Until the civil war of the 1990s, the government personnel was recruited mainly from the military intelligence service and the ruling party, the FLN. After that modernized the Regime, to the extent that it granted to other circuits of the access. In this way, formed a class, which is funded mainly by the income from the Oil and gas export. These people come mainly from the West of the country, and around the area of Oran, from where Bouteflika comes from. About 90 percent of the Ministers come from there. In addition, there is a Clique of so-called “import barons”. You control the imports and assign the appropriate licenses. These are people with purely commercial interests. And then there’s the – as we say in Algeria – revolutionary “families”, that is to say, the trade unions, the party, the old structures. In all of these heterogeneous group, the secret services and the military continue to play a role.
A fifth term? No, thank you! Protests in Algiers, 22. February 2019
The above-mentioned circuits relied on Bouteflika. Why?
You can take advantage of his Image and the national history. Bouteflika has taken part in the Algeria war. He is an important figure: He was the youngest foreign Minister of Algeria, and internationally, he enjoys a certain legitimacy. His old age will facilitate the groups which surrounded him, to enforce your interests. The result is that the reforms will ultimately be implemented, instead, the Status quo dominates. Bouteflika would be able to, he would refuse such a policy might be in.
Algeria has treasures of enormous ground, around the gas fields. Why not, it is possible to cause the country some good?
Racihod Ouaissa, University Of Marburg
The country lives, in a sense, under a modern authoritarianism. It is a mixture of authoritarian and some democratic elements. I would not say that Algeria is a dictatorship reigns – these times are over. The country lives under a rigid bureaucracy, the mental is still stuck in the 1970s. There is also a sort of buddy capitalism – so what in English is called “crony capitalism”. Its members base their Power on the principle to keep the population dependent on the state. You don’t want to industrialise the country, to prevent the emergence of a working class, General class, which would be independent of pensions from the Oil and gas export said. This has disastrous consequences: Thus, the Bouteflika initiated large-scale projects such as the East-West highway from the Chinese, were built. These Jobs could also have been unskilled Algerians. But the parts of the government do not want to, because in this way, independent of the state the social groups could be created. Instead, they keep the population prefer dependence on the state.
The EU and the US behave so far-you are right, given the development in Algeria. How do you see that?
This behaviour is hypocritical in the extreme. There is on the part of the Western States, of course: Algeria plays a military role. The country has one of the largest armies in the entire Region and is a stabilizing factor. According to the experience of the 90s, it is also considered as an important player in the fight against terrorism. Also with regard to Mali, and especially Libya, Algeria is making an important order. A destabilizing interested in Algeria with 40 million inhabitants, would be a disaster. You have already seen, that the Algerian terrorism can come to Paris. To the extent these Concerns are justified.
Hardly government: President Abd al-Aziz Bouteflika
Nevertheless, In some ways, Angela Merkel has deceived the Algerian population during your visit in September last year, but at least disappointed. It gave the impression, as you had discussed with Bouteflika. So to have it shown on the following day, the Algerian Newspapers. This has raised great hopes. However, I believe it is hard to imagine that Chancellor Merkel should have resulted in a severely ailing Bouteflika a serious discussion. The Algerians thought it was about human rights. But the speech was later never. In this respect, the Algerians in the following weeks were disillusioned. Now you demonstrate. And these demonstrations are not a long time at the end.
The Interview was conducted by Kersten Knipp.
Rachid Ouaissa teaches politics at the University of Marburg. There, he leads the “politics of the Middle East” at the center for Near and middle Eastern studies (CNMS).