Thousands of Algerians gathered in Algiers on March 8, 2019, to protest President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term, despite his warning of potential "chaos" from unrest. Demonstrators waved green, white, and red flags in the Grand Post Office square, with youth-led marches reported as largely peaceful.
Security forces deployed anti-riot vehicles and water cannons amid heightened tensions, though recent protests had remained calm. Bouteflika, who has used a wheelchair since a 2013 stroke, issued a message urging vigilance against "insidious parties" seeking to disrupt the demonstrations. He referenced Algeria's 1990s civil war and regional terrorism as potential risks if protests turned violent.
The protests followed Bouteflika's February 10 announcement to seek re-election, sparking widespread discontent. Social media campaigns under #March8Movement organized peaceful demonstrations, with poet Lazhari Labter issuing 18 guidelines emphasizing non-violence and cleanliness. Volunteers coordinated cleanup efforts, while taxi drivers noted a surge in participation from 50% to 100% in their neighborhoods.
Bouteflika's health has drawn scrutiny, with lawyers protesting his eligibility. On March 8, 1,000 legal professionals marched to the Constitutional Council, arguing his condition disqualified him from the April 18 election. The president remains in Switzerland for medical tests, with no return date announced. A 2001 demonstration ban has been largely ignored since two weeks of daily protests began.
