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HomeAfricaAlgeria: Social anger rises, President Tebboune makes a gesture

Algeria: Social anger rises, President Tebboune makes a gesture

The Algerian president urged his government to open “a dialogue” with the social partners in an attempt to appease the social anger which is mounting in the country on Sunday.

A first step towards the people? Strikes, the unemployment rate of 15% and pauperization, soaring prices, and shortages of basic foodstuffs. For several weeks, a social front in turmoil has been added to a deep economic crisis, born from the fall in oil revenues, and to the political stalemate that has persisted since the popular Hirak uprising two years ago.

During a council of ministers this Sunday, President Tebboune “ordered to engage in a dialogue with the various social partners in order to improve the socio-professional situation of employees in the” Education and Health sector, according to an official press release.

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At the same time, Civil Protection agents, firefighters, in particular, marched in uniform not far from the headquarters of the Algerian presidency to the building of their general management. They demanded the satisfaction of their socio-professional demands and the release of one of their own, arrested without explanation in the morning. The demonstration was violently repressed by the police, according to statements by firefighters relayed on social networks.

https://twitter.com/May_N_H/status/1388894556549230597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1388894556549230597%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leparisien.fr%2Finternational%2Falgerie-la-colere-sociale-monte-le-president-tebboune-fait-un-geste-02-05-2021-W65CNMMVSZEXDPSZMKNGILVO7U.php

“They beat us and used tear gas. In the middle of Ramadan. We did nothing. We haven’t broken anything. We know the regulations. We are just asking for our rights, ”one of the firefighters told reporters in a video posted on the Internet.

“A plot against the country”, for the Ministry of the Interior

In a press release disseminated by the press and television, the Interior Ministry described this protest movement as “illegal” and falling under “a plot against the country”, recurring allegations which also target other voices. dissidents in Algeria as well as private media. The Interior Ministry accused the protesters of being pushed “by parties hostile to Algeria”.

On Saturday, during his message on the occasion of May 1, Albdemadjid Tebboune warned that “any form of protest in the various sectors should take into account the interests of citizens, respect the laws of the Republic and not serve as a motive. of doubtful instrumentalization ”.

A worrying sign for an unpopular and paralyzed regime facing the return of the Hirak to the streets, social conflicts are increasing in public services: education, tax administration, railways, firefighters, and the health sector exhausted by Covid-19.

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