Algeria: Protest in Tinzaouatine over lack of water suppressed with rubber bullets and live fire on June 15

Event

On Monday, June 15, border police dispersed a protest in Tinzaouatine (Tamanrasset province) with rubber bullets and live fire. Protesters were demonstrating over the erection of a barbed-wire fence blocking access to the town's principal water source. Local media sources reported casualties amongst the protesters, with social media reports indicating that one protester died. The Algerian Ministry of Defense has denied that border police fired on the crowd, instead blaming the demonstration on known agitators. The ministry claimed that unidentified individuals opened fire on the police, hitting a protester in the process, who then died while receiving medical care.

Further clashes and a heightened security presence in the area is to be expected in the near-term.

Advice

Individuals in Algeria are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and anticipate a heightened security presence and localized disruptions to business and transportation around protest sites.