page_title: 2000s in Algeria
section_title: 2001 Black Spring
hierarchical_section_title: 2000s in Algeria / Uprising of Minorities / 2001 Black Spring
caption_attribution_description: English: Kabyle woman (Algeria), Neurdein Frères, ca 1870
context_page_description: The 2000s in Algeria emerged out of the 'Black Decade' of the 1990s. The 'Black Decade' was characterised by a civil war beginning in 1991 and ending at the beginning of the following decade in 2002. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is accredited with ending the civil war, continued to be in power throughout the 2000's following his election in 1999. Despite being in power for 20 years and being Algeria’s longest running president, Bouteflika’s politics have been widely opposed and contested, with accusations from the BBC “of widespread corruption and state repression”. In April 2019 Bouteflika officially resigned from his position as president after months of public protest and loss of the army's support. The 82 Year old President was widely considered unfit for the role after experiencing a stroke in 2013. His resignation was reported by the BBC to have been met with "huge celebrations".
  In the post civil war period of the 2000s ‘Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’, an Algerian Islamic extremist group, rose to prominence and was responsible for a number of acts of terrorism in Algeria and the Northern African region.
context_section_description: In early 2001 riots broke out in the Kayblia region of Algeria as the native Berber people of the area fought to gain increased recognition of their traditional language and culture. The riots, known as the ‘Black Spring’, lasted up to 10 days and where responsible for between 40 and 80 deaths, with some controversy surrounding the validity of the recorded death toll. The catalyst for the riots was the death of a young Berber person who was shot while being held in custody by the national rural police, the Gendarmerie Nationale, in April 2001. This event caused particular outrage amongst the Berber community as it came during preparations for the 21st anniversary of the 1980 ‘Berber Spring’ uprising. 
  As a result strikes and demonstrations have gained popularity and frequency in the Kayblia,  especially amongst the youth of the region. Primary concerns of the protesters where the recognition of the Thamazighth language, restitution for the deaths of Kabylia people, removal of armed forces and autonomy for the Kabylia region. 
  The 2001 ‘Black Spring’ has been referred to as one of the “deadliest events in the movements history” by Journalist Yasmina Allouche, as it spurred over 4 years of political unrest in the country lasting until early 2006. In the wake of the riots, Algeria experienced its largest demonstration in history, with more than 1 million protestors meeting on the 11 June 2001. 
  The ‘Black Spring’ was a turning point in the ongoing history of the movement and left a legacy of political support for the Berber minority, such as formation of the transnational ‘Citizens Movement’. On the 10th of April 2002 the Berber language Tamazight was officially recognised and constitutionalised as a national language.
caption: Kabyle woman
exif: {"Image DateTime": "2010:11:20 01:54:47"}