In 2011, the Arab Spring witnessed a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions spreading across many southern Mediterranean countries. The uprisings were an expression of deep-seated resentment at the authoritarian regimes, anger at the brutality of the security apparatus, corruption, etc. In a bid to keep the situation under control, the Algerian authorities promised in-depth reforms and lifted the state of emergency. But today, it is quite clear that these reforms were but a game of smoke and mirrors. Restrictions of public freedoms are even greater in 2015 than before the reforms.
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