This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
On the 44th consecutive Friday of anti-government protests, thousands of Algerians flooded the streets of Algiers, a day after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was sworn in following his victory in last week's presidential election, published on December 20, 2019.
Protesters chanted, 'It's you or us. We will never stop,' as they expressed their discontent with the new president.
Amar Alileche, a 66-year-old pensioner, was among the protesters. 'I don't accept this president... and I am against the dialogue the ruling establishment is offering,' he said.
Alileche emphasized the need for 'negotiations that must lead to the departure of the old regime.'
President Tebboune, 74, succeeded President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in April after two decades in office due to massive demonstrations.
Tebboune, a former prime minister under Bouteflika, is seen as close to Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, the armed forces chief and de facto strongman since Bouteflika's resignation.
Despite inviting the Hirak protest movement to engage in dialogue and vowing to appoint young ministers and push for a new constitution, Tebboune's comments were rejected by the protest movement.
Protesters in Algiers and the second city of Oran demanded deep reforms, calling for 'transitional institutions' with no ties to the former political establishment.
Ali Salhi, 53, an employee with Algerian energy giant Sonatrach, echoed the sentiments of other activists, saying, 'The Hirak will continue until all its demands are met.'
