The human rights office urged the Algerian government to stop its ongoing systematic crackdown on anti-government protesters and activists of the Hirak movement

On World Press Freedom Day, we look at the situation of journalists and of the press in different countries in the Arab-Maghreb region

Press freedoms in almost 75% of the 180 countries evaluated in the index have significantly declined. This has been aggravated by the COVID-19 outbreak which many countries have used as justification for exercising more control over the news media

Drareni was arrested last year in March and was detained without charge or trial while he was covering the Hirak protests in the country. He was charged with “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “endangering national unity”

The president also announced a government reshuffle within the next 48 hours and the issuance of presidential pardons to dozens of imprisoned Hirak protesters

Only 23.7 percent of the eligible voters exercised their franchise in the referendum. The Hirak protesters whose mobilization had led to the overthrow of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika had called for a boycott

As per the proposed amendments to the constitution, the president will have to appoint as prime minister the leader of the party with the majority of seats in parliament