When Algerians pushed for democracy in protests that led to Abdelaziz Bouteflika resignation in early 2019, what they wanted was a system that concretely accepts and endorses citizens’ oversight of government and civilian control of the army. However, the military junta has done everything to prevent democratization in Algeria. It looks for every possible excuse to discredit the country’s protest movement or Hirak, including spewing conspiracy theories. Recently it said that a Moroccan was arrested among hundreds of thousands of protestors.  This really interesting article is from The North Africa Post:

The Algerian military junta has ridiculed itself once again as it keeps miring itself in conspiracy theories saying this time that one Moroccan was arrested among hundreds of thousands of protesters who took to the street of Algiers demanding a clean break with an opaque and corrupt regime.

As the Hirak regains its momentum following a break imposed by the pandemic, millions march in different Algerian cities chanting ‘’the people want independence,’’ ‘’a civilian not a military state,’’ ‘’why should we vote,’’ and other slogans that make an aged military elite tremble.

Lacking a democratic or economically viable alternative to legitimate street demands, the Kingmaker in Algeria, the army, kept recycling the same old conspiracy theories blaming the Hirak on Morocco, France and Israel.

Read the full story here.