Violent riots broke out in Tiaret, Algeria, last weekend due to severe water shortages that left residents without access to drinking water. The protests, fueled by months of drought and rationing, saw demonstrators setting tires on fire and blocking roads to demand water be restored. President Abdelmajid Tebboune called for emergency measures to address the crisis and sent government ministers to apologize to the population.
The unrest comes as Tebboune is preparing to run for a second term as president in a country heavily impacted by climate change. Northern Africa has been hit hard by a multi-year drought, leading to depleted reservoirs and reduced rainfall for the region. Tiaret, located on a semi-arid high desert plateau, relies on dammed reservoirs for water, but they have dwindled to 20% capacity.
To address the immediate water shortage, officials plan to import water from nearby sources and build new pipelines to bring groundwater to Tiaret. While long-term solutions involve piping water from larger dams and investing in desalination plants, the current situation remains tense with residents suffering for months. Despite limited news coverage in Algeria, the situation has gained attention on social media as journalists in the country face restrictions on press freedom. The region continues to struggle as authorities work to resolve the water crisis and restore calm to Tiaret.
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