Algerians jubilate as Bouteflika announces decision not to Run

Algerians took to the streets in celebration on Monday (March 11) evening after ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he had abandoned his decision to seek a fifth term, bowing to weeks of mass demonstrations against his 20-year rule.

Tens of thousands of people from all social classes have been demonstrating almost daily against Bouteflika’s decision to stand in the election, rejecting a stale political system dominated for nearly 60 years by veterans of an independence war against France.

After the announcement, a crowd of demonstrators took to the streets waving a huge Algerian flag. 

Bouteflika, 82, has ruled for 20 years but has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.