Violent riots erupted in Tiaret, Algeria last weekend as residents protested months of water shortages that left taps running dry. Protestors set tires ablaze and blocked roads, demanding their water be restored. President Abdelmajid Tebboune called for emergency measures to address the suffering, as the region faces a multi-year drought that has drained reservoirs and reduced rainfall. The semi-arid high desert plateau relies on three shrinking dammed reservoirs for water, with groundwater aquifers unable to recharge due to lack of rain. Algeria’s long-term solution involves piping water from larger dams and investing in desalination plants. Meanwhile, officials are working to import water from nearby sources and are constructing new pipelines to bring groundwater to Tiaret. The situation remains tense, with news of the tensions spreading on social media but receiving little coverage in Algerian media due to restrictions on press freedom. Journalists in the country have faced imprisonment in recent years, limiting the coverage of the ongoing water crisis in Tiaret. The rioting in Tiaret underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management solutions in the face of climate change impacts in the region.
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Violent protests break out in central Algeria following prolonged water shortages due to severe drought
