Hardship riots continue in Algeria

Anger among young people over unemployment and the cost of living continues to feed riots in Algeria.
 
Hundreds of youths clashed with police in several cities across the country, including the capital. A car dealership and a mobile phone store were among buildings set on fire in the Bab el-Oued district of Algiers. 
 
Anti-riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters, some of whom had been trying to block roads with burning tyres.
 
Algerian media also reported violent disturbances in Oran and Blida.
 
There have been similar violent demonstrations since late December.
 
The unrest stems from anger at the rising cost of basic supplies; staples such as flour, oil and sugar have doubled in the past few months.
 
Overcrowding caused by a lack of housing has also become a problem in cities.
 
Unemployment is another factor, especially among the young. According to the IMF, 75 percent of Algeria’s population is aged under 30 and 20 percent of young people are out of work.
 
The government has promised an investment plan worth some 218 billion euros over the next 4 years to create jobs and improve living conditions. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has also pledged one million new housing units by 2014.

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