Violent riots erupted in the Algerian desert city of Tiaret over the weekend due to months of water shortages, leaving residents without access to drinking water. Protestors wearing balaclavas set tires aflame and blocked roads to demand an end to water rationing. President Abdelmajid Tebboune called for emergency measures to address the suffering in Tiaret and sent government ministers to promise a restoration of water access.
The region has been suffering from a multi-year drought, causing critical reservoirs to dry up and leaving the population with limited water resources. Algeria’s long-term solution includes piping water from larger dams and investing in desalination plants, but in the meantime, water is being imported from neighboring sources to alleviate the shortage. The company responsible for the region’s water infrastructure is working on new pipelines to bring groundwater into Tiaret until a permanent solution is in place.
Despite the tensions in Tiaret, the situation has not received much media coverage in Algeria, where press freedom is limited, and many outlets rely on advertising revenue from the state. The unrest in Tiaret highlights the challenges faced by communities in drought-stricken regions, as climate change continues to impact water resources in Northern Africa. Leaders are being pressured to find sustainable solutions to avoid future water crises in the region.
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