One of the potential calamities or blessings, depending on your point of view, of the continued stand-off between the Army and demonstrators in Algeria is its deepening economic stagnation. So far the Army has not demonstrated that it has the capacity to manage security, political, and economic challenges at the same time. It has continued with a non-aggressive security posture towards the demonstrators, which worries some that this focus is giving terrorists and militants along the southern and eastern borders time to strengthen their numbers and decide on new tactics.
Politically, the Army stresses the need for sooner rather than later steps that conform to the existing constitution to bring about elections. The demonstrators claim that this is a ruse that favors existing parties and politicians who have the name recognition to keep out independent candidates. This step is further compounded in that, unlike Sudan, there is no recognized leadership among the opposition that can negotiate a forward process on elections, political reforms, and returning Algeria to competent civilian rule.
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