Algeria’s Tebboune urges dialogue amid mounting social anger

Algerian president orders dialogue as firefighters stage protest in Algiers calling for better working conditions.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has urged his government to open “a dialogue” with social partners to appease mounting social anger. An unemployment rate of 15 percent, soaring prices and shortages of basic food items have all added to turmoil caused by a deep economic crisis due to the fall in oil revenues and political deadlock since the popular Hirak pro-democracy uprising two years ago. During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Tebboune ordered “a dialogue with different social partners to improve the socio-professional situation” of employees in the education and health sectors, a statement said.