Tens of thousands of Algerians took to the streets March 1 to oppose plans by long-ruling President Abdelaziz Bouteflika [8] to seek a fifth term in office. Police fired tear-gas at protesters in Algiers, and more than 50 officers were reported injured, with at least 45 people arrested. The mass demonstration—dubbed the Million Man March—followed week-long protests in more than 30 cities against incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's reelection bid for a fifth term in office. On Feb. 26, the University of Algiers camus was locked down by riot police as hundreds of students Around 500 students shouted "No to a fifth term!" and "Bouteflika get out!" (BBC News [9], Al Jazeera [10], AhramOnline [11])
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir [12] has meanwhile declared a national state of emergency in response to ongoing protests across the country. Last week he dismissed his entire government and sacked all state governors, replacing them with high officials of the security forces. But the move came as Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS) announced that Bashir would be stepping down, possibly indicating a power struggle in the political establishment. Protesters have continued to take to the streets and clash with police, in defiance of the state of emergency. (BBC News [13])
Newly established Emergency Courts have been imposing harsh sentences pn those arrested in the protests. To quell the first nationally coordinated protest organized by the Sudanese Professionals Association Feb. 28, security forces arrested hundreds of demonstrators in Khartoum, Omdurman and other cities. (Sudan Tribune [14])
