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Algiers Algeria – "I am super happy and excited, we won the battle, it will be a sleepless night," Bilal, a 27-year-old carpenter, told Al Jazeera in downtown Algiers, while he and thousands of other Algerians were celebrating the celebrations of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's resignation.
The 82-year-old ruler, in trouble, announced that he was retiring with immediate effect in a letter issued Tuesday by the official APS news agency, just hours after the head of the company. The army requested that measures be taken to remove him from his post.
"My intention (…) is to help calm the spirits and the citizens so that they can together lead Algeria to a better future they aspire to," Bouteflika said in a letter to the president of the country. Constitutional Council.
"I made this decision to avoid and avoid the arguments that distort, unfortunately, the current situation, and prevent it from turning into serious skirmishes, to ensure protection." people and property, "he added.
Under the tunnel of the faculties of the capital that leads to the place Maurice Audin, a group of jubilant demonstrators, some draped under the national flag, jumped for joy singing "The country is ours and we will do what we want" . Others triggered fireworks at the tunnel entrance.
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| People celebrated in the streets after the resignation of Bouteflika [Ramzi Boudina/Reuters] |
Standing near a plaque dedicated to Audin, a French anti-colonial activist during the Liberation War in Algeria, Youcef, a 26-year-old video editor, said he thought the dismissal of Bouteflika marked the beginning of A new era in this country of North Africa.
"This is the first day of a new life for the Algerian people.On April 2 will be a great day in the history of Algeria, such as July 5," said Youcef in Al Jazeera, evoking the day of the country's independence.
Farida, a 23-year-old math student who was traveling to central Algiers with her 3-year-old daughter, agreed.
"This sounds new.We are living a historic and exciting moment.My generation has grown knowing that only one president all our lives."
"We've had enough, we were desperately waiting for a change," said Farida, adding that she has been involved in the protest movement since the beginning of the protest on February 22.
Similarly, Brahim, a 36-year-old law professor, estimated that Algeria had reached a turning point, comparing the end of President Bouteflika's reign, which has lasted for 20 years, the longest in history. history of the country, to the defeat of France during the 1962 independence war.
"This looks like the second day of Algeria's independence.We will liberate our country from a mafia that ruled it for the last two decades, as our elders opposed the French colonial system in the 1960s, "Brahim told Al Jazeera as convoys of cars drove along Didouche Mourad's busy street in Algiers.
Like many celebrants, Badis, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, described Bouteflika's departure as "a great victory for the Algerian people".
"We can be proud of ourselves, and what we have achieved is incredible," said Badis, adding that while remaining cautious, he still felt optimistic.
"It's not over yet, we need more, we need to start a transition process," he added.
Bilal, the Carpenter, D & # 39; agreement. "The popular uprising paid off and we did not take the street five weeks in a row for nothing," he said, waving his Algerian flag.
Nearby, a group of young Algerians, climbed onto the roof of their immobilized cars, chanting La Casa Del Mouradia, a song written by Ouled El Bahdja, which became the most popular anthem of the protest movement against Bouteflika 's administration.
Nearby, another group of youths made V-shaped signs to indicate victory.
"Complete overhaul of leadership"
Meriem, a 63-year-old designer who went to La Grande Poste, the central post office in Algiers with her family to celebrate Bouteflika's resignation, seemed less enthusiastic.
"It's a combination of emotions, I'm both happy and sad, it's a miserable end for Abdelaziz Bouteflika, he goes out the door from the side," said Meriem to Al Jazeera. .
She saw on her phone images showing Bouteflika, wearing a North African beige tunic, sitting in his wheelchair while handing his resignation letter to the chairman of the Constitutional Council, Tayeb Belaiz.
"He should have left after the end of the second term in 2009. We would have been grateful for what he has accomplished, and now we feel nothing but pity for him," added Meriem.
Like many celebrants, Meriem said she would demonstrate again next Friday to demand a "real change."
"We want a complete overhaul of the leadership, which has been in power for the past two decades, and we will continue to put pressure on the authorities until Bouteflika's clique leaves power," he said. she said.
For Farida, Bouteflika's resignation was "not enough".
"His dismissal is only the first step, we will continue to walk until we have fair and transparent elections and a new government because the cabinet led by Noureddine Bedoui does not represent us.
"We do not want the old guard to interfere in the process of transition," she said while calling for the implementation of Article 7 of the Constitution which states that " the people are the source of power ".
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