ALGERIA
Algerian students continue to demonstrate every Tuesday.
The 44th Tuesday action coincided with the government-declared three-day national mourning period following the death of general Ahmed Gaid Saleh.
Students who shouted the slogan “Death to Gaid Salih” in previous actions in the capital did not shout slogans that directly targeted Salih on this occasion.
Gaid Salih, who has been Chief of the General Staff since 2004, died of a heart attack on Monday. Salih was 79 years old.
As a result of the protest movement, Abdulaziz Bouteflika was forced into resignation in April, resulting in the seizure of power by Salih. Salih had constantly refused the demands of the activists after seizing power, trying to keep the current system alive.
Hirak (movement), who led the protests, stated that Salih’s death did not change anything and that they were against the system, not the individual.
However, slogans protesting the top military commanders continued to be shouted. In the action, “a civilian state, not military,” “the generals are trash, Algerian independence,” was shouted.
