Central Algeria experiences riots due to prolonged water scarcity

Tiaret, Algeria experienced violent riots over water shortages, causing residents to queue for access to water. President Abdelmajid Tebboune demanded emergency measures be implemented to rectify the situation. The region has been hit hard by a multi-year drought, draining critical reservoirs and reducing rainfall. The region’s water supply comes from three shrinking dammed reservoirs, resulting in decreased functionality due to a lack of rain. Long-term solutions involve piping water from larger dams and investing in desalination plants. In the meantime, officials are importing water from nearby sources and constructing new pipelines to alleviate the water shortage. Despite tensions and riots, little news coverage has been seen in Algeria where press freedom is limited and journalists have been imprisoned in recent years. The situation in Tiaret remains tense, with residents suffering from months of water shortages. The unrest comes as Tebboune is expected to run for a second term as president of Algeria, emphasizing the urgency of resolving the water crisis in the region.

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