People came out to the streets when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, announced that after 20 years in power he would not be standing for a fifth consecutive term.
During his reign, the country’s vast gas and oil wealth has not trickled down to the 44 million-strong population, corruption is rife, and unemployment high – especially among the youth.
Yet there has a been a reluctance to take the route of the 2011 Arab uprisings. In this week's Sightline, Tim Marshall contextualises what Mr Bouteflika's decision means for the future of Algeria's political system.
