Zeynep Aziz
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned on 2 April after mass protests and pressure from the armed forces ended his two-decade presidency.
What happened
The Hirak protest movement began after the ailing leader sought a fifth term. His later withdrawal from the election failed to satisfy demonstrators demanding wider political change.
Why it mattered
The resignation removed Algeria’s longest-serving president but did not end public calls for reform of the governing system.
Context and consequences
The military and constitutional institutions managed the transition while protesters continued weekly demonstrations for civilian-led change.
