Thousands of people of Algerian origin rallied in Paris’s Republic Square on Sunday, demanding a shift in their home country’s political system after Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his resignation last week.
Demonstrators, who filled the square with Algerian flags and banners, are aiming at being the voice of Algerians abroad, as unionist Akila Lazri explained: “The objective today, as every Sunday, is to collect all the information regarding Friday’s demonstrations and political events that happened in the past week in Algeria, and to become the resounding board of the Algerian cause abroad. We are the voice of the Algerian people, here to support the movement which is taking place in Algeria.”
The Algerian diaspora has been holding rallies in Paris and across France since February, said activist Jamal Berber: “This is a regular demonstration which is taking place since February 22, we are demonstrating for the renewal of Algeria, for a transformation into a more modern and democratic state, it has begun with Bouteflika’s running for presidency, and it evolved into a major evolution in Algeria.”
Bouteflika resigned after weeks of mass protests which started on February 22, following his bid to seek a fifth term in the presidential elections.