Sixty years ago, Algeria was known as a poster child for anti-colonial revolution and became a magnet for liberation struggles worldwide after reaching independence in 1962.

Half-a-century later, the Algerian people are back in the streets, this time for a revolution against autocracy and corruption, national independence having failed to deliver the full emancipation that Algerian citizens feel they deserve.

For the past six months, millions of Algerians of all ages and from all walks of life have been demonstrating in every major city in Algeria every Friday in massive numbers without fail, rain or shine, through the worst heatwave the country has known for years, through Ramadan and through the summer hiatus. Nothing has managed to break the movement’s momentum so far.

Today we speak with Algerian scholar and activist Hamza Hamouchene about the movement, its endurance and its promise for the future of the country.