What will a post-Bouteflika Algeria look like?

What lies ahead for Algeria?
Following weeks of anti-government protests, Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced on Tuesday that he has resigned, state media reported. Algerians began rallying against the ailing, 82-year-old leader in February when Bouteflika initially announced his bid to run for a fifth term. Seeking an even greater political overhaul, many Algerian protesters are unhappy with what they see as a government that serves only the nation’s elites. What type of political transition can we expect in Algeria?

Chad’s social media ban
It’s been more than a year since the Chadian government blocked social media access to its citizens. Use of platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter was cut off following anti-austerity protests and a national political conference in March 2018 that recommended President Idris Deby rule until 2033. Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries and internet penetration is less than 6 percent. How have Chadians been impacted by the ban? Why has the social media blackout lasted so long, and is anything being done to change the situation?

#FreeStellaNyanzi
Ugandan activist and academic Stella Nyanzi has been detained since November after posting a poem on Facebook about Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. She is being charged with offensive communication and cyber harassment under the 2011 Computer Misuse Act. Uganda has a history of shutting down internet access during elections and prosecuting citizens who criticise the government on social media. How will Nyanzi’s trial impact free expression in the country?

On this episode of The Steam, we speak with:
Rosebell Kagumire @RosebellK
Editor, AfricanFeminism
www.africanfeminism.com

Felicia Anthonio @FelAnthonio
AFEX Coordinator, Media Foundation for West Africa
africafex.org

Dalia Ghanem @DaliaGhanemYazb
Resident Scholar, Carnegie Middle East Center
daliaghanem.com

Malia Bouttia @MaliaBouattia
Activist

Read more:
Algeria’s Bouteflika resigns: state news agency – AJE
Chad social media ban reaches one-year mark – African Arguments
Trial of activist Stella Nyanzi a true test of freedom of expression in Uganda – RFI

What do you think about these stories? Record a video comment or leave your thoughts below.