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News Brief
Rufaro Samanga
Mar. 23, 2020 08:10AM EST
Photo by Billal Bensalem/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Algeria has halted anti-government protests amid coronavirus outbreak.

Algeria Calls Off Anti-Government Protests Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

For the first time in over a year, protesters in Algeria have called off weekly demonstrations against former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's government amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The BBC reports that protest organisers in Algeria have called off weekly anti-government demonstrations amid the growing coronavirus outbreak.

This will mark the first time in over a year that Algerians will not take to the streets in mass protest against former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's government.

Protests in Algeria began last year in February shortly after then President Bouteflika announced that he would be running for a fifth term in office.

After weeks of unceasing protests from Algerians, the 82-year old was forced to resign in April saying, "There will be no fifth term," and adding that, "There was never any question of it for me. Given my state of health and age, my last duty towards the Algerian people was always contributing to the foundation of a new Republic."

However, Algerians continued to protest even after Bouteflika's resignation, demanding that his entire government step down as well. Despite former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune having succeeded Bouteflika, following his victory in the 2019 December elections, Algerians still regard his office as being "illegitimate", according to France24.

As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to increase, protest organisers have since called on Algerians to remain indoors. This past Friday, protesters heeded the precautionary measures and as a result, city streets were left empty.

So far, Algeria has reported over 90 cases of coronavirus with at least 10 confirmed deaths while the total number of confirmed cases on the African continent now stands at a little over 900.

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Paul Rusesabagina, who became renowned for his heroic portrayal in ‘Hotel Rwanda’, has received a presidential-ordered prison commute and will be released.

Paul Rusesabagina, the former hotel manager who saved over 1,200 Rwandans during the 1994 genocide and who was the inspiration behind the 2004 Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, will be released from prison on Saturday (March 25th). Following a request for clemency, Rwanda’s government commuted the prison sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who is now 68.

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According to spokesperson Yolande Makolo, the sentences of 19 others convicted alongside Rusesabagina will also be released.

"Under Rwandan law, commutation of the sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction," Makolo told Reuters. “Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the State of Qatar."

As reported by Reuters, Rwanda’s ministry of justice also stated that the commutation could be revoked if any released prisoners repeated the offenses.

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