EED10 Years Supporting Democracy

05 December 2016 17:00 to 19:00
Location European Endowment for Democracy Avenue des Gaulois 29
1040 Brussels, Belgium

“Algeria’s South: Trouble’s Bellwether” – EED hosts a debate with the International Crisis Group

5 December 2016 17:00 to 19:00
European Endowment for Democracy Avenue des Gaulois 29
1040 Brussels, Belgium

On 5 December 2016, EED together with the International Crisis Group hosted a discussion on Crisis Group’s latest report "Algeria's South: Trouble's Bellwether", which details a pattern of burgeoning unrest in the region.

Representatives of the International Crisis Group and the European External Action Service debated causes as well as repercussions of the growing discontent. Speaking about the unique challenges characterising the country’s south, the panellists examined separate movements in three cities that have evolved in recent years to mobilise thousands of Algerians:

  • Ghardaia presents a unique case as the tensions in the province emanate from sectarian conflict between Mozabite and Arab populations, in addition to the political and economic concerns shared by other southern regions.

  • In the town of In Salah, an environmental movement sprung up overnight after the government announced that a shale drilling test was conducted in close proximity to the city while Ouargla witnessed the largest southern demonstrations spurred by combination of socio-economic issues.

The three case studies, as well as proposed state responses are described in detail in the Crisis Group’s report.

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