European Parliament sentences Algeria and calls on the army to submit to civilian rule

A few days ago the Strasbourg Parliament adopted a resolution by 669 votes to three, strongly condemning the dictatorial excesses of the Algerian government, in particular "the repression of human rights activists and journalists", and the censorship in all its forms that has been imposed on media critical of the regime. The resolution, adopted almost unanimously in the continental legislative agora, calls on the Algerian government to release all political prisoners and detainees of the popular protest movement Hirak.

The European resolution is not, however, new. Already last year and at this time, the Parliament of Strasbourg issued a similar resolution, which was rejected unreservedly by Algiers, considering it "a flagrant interference in its internal affairs". The then chief of staff, General Gaid Salah, was categorical: "We do not admit anyone who comes to lecture us". 

However, this new resolution has some novelties that are worth noting:

• Firstly, it has been presented, debated and accepted by an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, something unusual and striking in parliamentary debates when the subject does not directly affect European legislation and the problems of its 28 members, including Great Britain, which remains a full member.
• Secondly, the categorical tone of the condemnation of what the Parliament considers to be a "violation of rights and freedoms" is striking, and comes at a time when civil society is protesting in all European countries about the succession of measures adopted by all EU governments in response to the Covid 19 pandemic, which many consider to be curtailing public freedoms. Moreover, in some countries such as France, public opinion is scandalised by police abuse, both against immigrants and against their own citizens. 
• Thirdly, and this is a far-reaching development, the resolution calls on the Algerian authorities to "ensure full accountability and democratic and civilian control of the armed forces", which, according to Strasbourg, "should be subordinate to a legally constituted civilian authority". 

It is hard to understand how overwhelming the parliamentary resolution is, precisely at a time when Algeria is facing a possible power vacuum, with President Abdelmajid Tebbun hospitalized in Germany by Covid 19, and the chief of general staff Said Chengriha also undergoing medical treatment in Switzerland, according to the portal Maroc Diplomatique. In addition to the serious health situation in the country, there is a major economic and financial crisis caused by the collapse of oil prices and the bleak prospects of the current global recession.

The Algerian political class and specialised analysts are wondering why the European Parliament has questioned the role, so far a moderator, played by the Algerian army, the only organised force that keeps the country's structure in place.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that Algeria has recently forged closer relations not only with its traditional strategic allies Russia and China but also with Turkey, an emerging second-order power in the Mediterranean and the Middle East that is not well regarded by the European Union. Nor is the coincidence of this resolution with the vigorous protest the Algiers authorities have conveyed to President Emmanuel Macron about the negotiations behind his back with the terrorist groups operating in Mali and the release of two hundred Jihadists by the Bamako government, many of whom will join the ranks of the armed Islamic militias operating in Algeria.

In any event, in the opinion of all the experts, a very forceful reaction is expected from the Algiers authorities.