Algeria: Emergency Law is Repealed

On Tuesday, Algeria’s Cabinet adopted an order to lift the 19-year-old state of emergency law. This measure is one of the economic and political demands that the opposition has sought in recent weeks. The government also announced that it would also undertake economic stimulus plans in an attempt to curb unemployment. It remains unclear what kind of an effect the removal of the law will have because earlier in the month Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, announced that protests would still be banned in Algiers indefinitely. The change will not go into effect until it is officially published in the government journal and its terms are outlined.

Update: U.S. State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley released the following statement in response to the announcement by the Algerian government: “The United States welcomes the lifting of the State of Emergency Law, in place since 1992, as a positive step. We reaffirm our support for the universal rights of the Algerian people, including the freedom of assembly and expression.”

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