Fearful of a new Hirak, Algeria bans music festivals

The Algerian regime has banned all music festivals across the country under the pretext of “solidarity with Gaza,” in a decision that many analysts see as a pre-emptive move to avert a return of the pro-democracy protests, known as the Hirak.

The decision came just after Tebboune officially announced his -expected- bid to run for a second term after a first mandate marred by economic setbacks and diplomatic blows.

Putting festivals on hold is yet a new episode in a crackdown on civil liberties, often sugarcoated in pretexts such as solidarity with Palestine.

Algeria has previously banned its own premier league matches, to prevent fans from attending stadiums and chanting anti-regime slogans.

While claiming solidarity with Palestinians, the same Algerian regime continues to ban all marches and protests in solidarity with Gaza.

In neighboring Morocco, whose diplomatic ties with Israel are often targeted by the Algerian regime, pro-Palestinian marches bring together hundreds of thousands in different cities wherein citizens gather and disperse in peace.

Amid a failing economy and soaring inflation, the Algerian regime fears that masses of disenchanted youth could use festivals to lash out at an inefficient government that has dilapidated the country’s oil and gas wealth.

The return of mass pro-democracy protests which forced Bouteflika to give up a fifth term in 2019 still haunts the recycled Algerian military regime led by the duo Chengriha-Tebboune.

The ban also comes in a context of recurring water protests in the country’s impoverished cities, such as Tiaret, where water supply stopped for weeks.