Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • J.B. Pritzker from his election campaign Facebook Page at UFCW union endorsement.
    Pritzker interview with Arab American newspapers American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022  Activism
  • rab American Democratic Club hosts a gathering of elected officials and journalists looking at the recent elections, celebrating Ramadan and Arab American Heritage month (April.)
    Arab American Heritage Month, Ramadan feted by Journalists and elected officials American Arabs
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims Activism
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American American Arabs
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs Arab World
  • Winter in Bekaa Lebanon January 2015 Photo courtesy of NRC Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
    AHRC Observes World Refugee Day American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Democrats in the Illinois June 28, 2022 Primary election Activism
  • The Arab Daily News candidate endorsements: Cook County, Illinois American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Republicans in the Illinois Republican Primary Election June 28, 2022 Election
  • Joseph Gutman was appointed by Gov. Pritzker to serve as a Member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Gutman was a Partner at BDT & Company from 2017 until retiring in January 2020 where he remains a consultant today.
    Gov Pritzker makes more appointments to state commissions, boards but no Arabs American Arabs
  • World Jewish Congress Chairman Ronald S. Lauder
    WJC President Ronald S. Lauder Receives France’s Top Distinction  Activism
  • Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Major Mariupol rescue operation conducted by Project DYNAMO, more than 480 people from Mariupol as city under violent siege falling to Russian forces. 
    Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Human Rights
  • US Congressman Sean Casten, 6th District, Illinois
    Congressman Sean Casten joins Ray Hanania Radio Show American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs

Algerian political impasse creates societal disorder

Posted on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on Algerian political impasse creates societal disorder
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

The Algerian Political Impasse Creates Societal Disorder. A political imperative can only produce and question the weakness or the absence of the State and with it the society that is participating in a national suicide.

By Abdennour Toumi

Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi

For politicians, it’s a mistake to bet on pessimism; however, when leaders become unavailable and people don’t have anything left to hope for, they turn to cynicism and rumors. As a result, they no longer place trust in their political leaders who must then confront their voters. This is the nature of politics.

In a crisis, those in power need to reassure the people, answer their legitimate questions and meet their needs fairly if they want to earn the public trust, in other words, credibility. Sometimes the whole nation feels disconnected because those in power might need them during elections, but as soon as the polls are closed, they don’t care about their demands.

That’s what many Algerians are feeling, even academicians and journalists.

Rising Anger

Algeria’s problems are growing and the rapport between the ruling powers and the people continues to deteriorate; the ill-health of President Bouteflika has worsened this relation, adding to the on-going disruptive social conflicts.

For example, the teachers, the pupils’ parents’ associations, and the unemployed in the southern cities are threatening to strike, which will disrupt the new social year — as for the teachers and the parents’ associations this upset is due to curriculum reforms from grade school through college level.

Algerian Palace
Algerian Palace

This in turn is making the parents very angry at the Education Ministry, which faces harsh criticism from its ideological opponents.

Add to that the fiasco of the 2016 Baccalaureate edition, and more recently an amateurish editing error in the sixth grade geography program, which cited Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and instead of mentioning Palestine, placed Israel on the map (the Palestinian cause is the sacred cow of the Algerians). According to a professor attached to the Algiers Political Studies Institute (name withheld by request), this is “…the drop of water that has made the vase overflow…”, so he told me.

Algerians re-elected President Bouteflika for a fourth term in April, 2014, yet his health was arguably questioned by the majority of Algerians and political parties alike, add to that various ministers in Premier Sellal’s government caught in corruption scandals and incompetence. Some of them were named in the “Panama Paper” scandal, but in Algeria, as the saying goes, one doesn’t change a winning team!

Since 2012, Premier Sellal continues to lead a governmental team that is facing serious challenges after the fall of the oil price, and many social projects are on hold, forcing the population to tighten its belt due to increasing rates for services such as electricity, gas and water, and vehicles’ tax. Further, a new finance policy has cut spending and subsidies to offset a sharp drop in revenue from oil sales.

Algerian school kids
Algerian school kids

Frightening Reality

Under these circumstances people are asking for significant changes, i.e., increase of the minimum wage, safety for their children in the streets and schools, and economic transparency instead of austerity, which could produce much needed changes in their daily lives, an opinion voiced by Mustapha, who runs a small grocery store in a western Algiers’ suburb.

People feel betrayed by the hope they had placed in President Bouteflika.  The country is in a political impasse; the national security is in serious danger because of the terrorist threat on its eastern and southern borders.  Some analysts have gone so far to describe it as worse than the dark decade of terror.

Then it was the nation’s social cohesion in question; nevertheless, current events befalling the country have become extreme when high public servants settle their differences à la Godfather style, referring to the killing of the country’s Domestic Security Chief in 2009 and the shooting episode in the President’s second residency in Zeralda in the summer of 2015.

None of these elements signal a healthy political system nor a societal order, and the people are worried and concerned about the country’s future. What is taking place at the summit of the system leads neither to the stability nor security that the President’s platform promised in 1999.

Hence Algerians are asking how long President Bouteflika will let special interests steal the country’s wealth. They are also questioning his silence, particularly in light of the political tragedy that touched the credibility of the country’s national education system and millions of pupils’ dreams and hopes. 

Nonetheless, just this month President Bouteflika appointed members to a national organization for prevention and elimination of corruption as indicated in a communiqué from the President’s Office.

Further, the director and editors of a publishing house under service contract to publish school books and manuals either intentionally or through ignorance lost basic information, which moreover embarrassed the Education Ministry and brought into question the entire educational system. 

A political imperative can only produce and question the weakness or the absence of the State and with it the society that is participating in a national suicide.

Popular Demand

From the Baccalaureate fiasco to this week’s amateurish error in the sixth grade manual, not to mention the performance of the Algerian athletes in the Olympics in Rio — people have even been asking, is there a pilot in the plane at all?

Then, two weeks ago, President Bouteflika made a rare public appearance to inaugurate a convention center in the seaside resort of Club-des-Pins in the western hills of Algiers, Algeria’s Green Zone.

President Bouteflika, who was last seen in public two years ago, toured the site in a wheelchair. He suffered a stroke three years ago and since has dramatically reduced his public activity, leading the velvet opposition to question his ability to rule the country. These rare appearances continue to fuel speculation about the 79-year-old President’s health.

The Presidential term is not due until 2019, but Bouteflika’s opponents have demanded early elections because of his physical fragility, and Algerians are calling for municipal and legislative elections in 2017.

His appearance is seen as a move to assure the local public opinion and the international community in a time when Algeria is to host the meeting of the International Energy Forum (OPEC), the 14-nation cartel that controls a third of the world’s oil production. Certainly, Algiers will be trying to stabilize the oil market to support prices.

Algerians are tired of the coded language and images sent from the ruling powers via the local media. They want the President’s team in the government and his entourage in the palace to fight for them and not fuel their worst fears. They want their country to move forward to lead and not to bleed again.

However, the new growth model the government wants set up is impracticable for the simple reason that it has no support from the population, the civil society’s actors or even the political opposition parties. 

The preservation of the centralized governance, with its slow, opaque and seldom transparent system of decision-making would prevent any emergence of a diversified economy based on successful independent entrepreneurs.

“In circumstances like these, it is important for a leader to demonstrate his leadership,” according to a former member of the Algerian diplomatic service (name withheld by request). “Algerians deserve answers from their leaders,” he continued. So, both the President’s advisors and his policy makers have to work harder to satisfy the people’s quest for social justice and security if they want them to abandon their pessimism and cynicism.

In the end, if the President’s entourage wants to rise out of this political impasse, they have to look to each other instead of away from each other and act with unity for the good of the people and the country.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Middle East, North Africa, Terrorism Tags:Algeria, political unrest, President Bouteflika, The Arab Spring

Post navigation

Previous Post: Al Jazeera English offers new access in US
Next Post: Jordan King warns Israel of “Sea of Hatred”

Related Posts

  • Russia: 2018 World Humanity Festival Abdennour Toumi
  • Rashida Tlaib and family
    Tlaib-Smith: Michigan Democrats gear up for 4th Senate District battle American Arabs
  • Importance of Arab American labor leader Nagi Daifullah Activism
  • Joseph Smith Founder of Mormon Church had 40 wives, Church admits Ali Younes
  • Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act set to expire Activism
  • Storms, floods slam Gaza Strip Arab World

More Related Articles

Protests in Tunisia, 2014. Copyright (C) 2014 Abdennour Toumi, All Rights Reserved. Tunisia has hope United Nations expresses concerns over Tunisian repression Arab World
Islam. Image courtesy of Mike Ghouse The Source of Muslim Extremism American Arabs
Lebanese National Conservatory plans Jazz Fest Arab World
Ambassadors for Peace and Divisiveness: Nasr and Oren


 Arab World
Israel’s Nuclear Weapons, Senator Schumer The Fourth Estate and Vanunu Mordechai #Vanunu American Arabs
Children die in Gaza house fire caused by candles Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Israeli soldiers and settlers attack Palestinians in Khirbet al-Mufaqarah, on Sept. 28, 2021 captured by B'Tselem video. The attacks were intentionally distorted by Israeli TV to blame the Palestinians
    Weaponizing Anti-Semitism as a tool to protect Israel’s war crimes
    July 27, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    Time to ditch the spoils system, our elected officials need to be more inclusive
    July 26, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Nearly four years in office, Pritzker fails to deliver on promises to Arab Americans
    June 12, 2022
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • NEWS
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022 
    July 21, 2022
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims
    July 16, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American
    July 11, 2022
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs
    June 20, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme