Dozens of Algerian university students stormed the streets of the capital for the 53rd week in a row on Tuesday, demanding the release of popular movement prisoners.
Meanwhile, police forces were trying to prevent them from organizing a demonstration in the Central Post Office in Tunis.
Some observers said authorities were fed up with the popular movement and the protesters and feared they would be motivated as the protests mark one year anniversary on Feb. 22.
Activists shared on social media videos filmed directly from the protests. They showed the riot police chasing students in the streets leading to the Central Post Office.
This location is considered the most important protest space since the outbreak of the uprising on February 22, 2019, against the running of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth term.
Bouzid Ichalalene, an editor in chief of an e-newspaper, wrote on his official Facebook page that police officers have “practiced unjustified violence” against him while covering the demonstrations. He also posted a picture showing bruises on his left shoulder.
Some Journalists who were among the demonstrators also confirmed that the riot police showed an unusual severity in dealing with the demonstrators.
The police also prevented reporters from broadcasting live events directly on social media pages.
This has become the only means to cover the demonstrations, along with some private newspapers. For a few months now after the government prevented public TV channels and private satellite channels from covering the events by threatening them to be denied government advertising.
Protesting students also expressed their rejection of President Abdelmagjid Tebboune’s decision to appoint former Parliament Speaker Karim Younes as “Mediator of the Republic.”
He was tasked with receiving complaints from citizens of supposed abuses by government agencies and delivering them to the presidency.
Younes served as Coordinator of the country’s National Commission for Dialogue and Mediation, which paved the way for the presidential elections on December 12.
