Residents of Sanana village in Tizi Ghennif, Algeria, staged a protest by closing the local APC office, demanding action on long-standing issues that have been promised but not delivered. The protest was organized by the village committee, which decided to take action after patience had worn thin. According to Ali Belarif, president of the village committee, the decision to protest was made on the morning of the event, and dozens of vehicles made their way to the APC office in a short amount of time.
The protesters, who were described as "exasperated by unfulfilled promises," closed the office for two hours before being received by the P/APC and his deputies to discuss their concerns. Belarif outlined the key issues affecting the village, including access to clean water, sanitation, the state of the village's primary school, and the condition of the road leading to the village. Some of these issues had previously been discussed at the wilaya level, but had yet to be addressed.
One of the main concerns for the villagers is the lack of access to clean water, which has been an issue for years. According to Belarif, the village representatives were assured that repairs would begin on the water supply system on the day following the protest. The villagers agreed to disperse on the condition that the authorities followed through on their promises, which they noted had been outstanding for some time.
The state of the village's primary school was another major concern for the residents of Sanana. The school had previously been closed by parents in protest at its condition, and some minor repairs had been carried out, including the installation of a fence. However, the villagers are calling for more substantial improvements to be made to the school.
The mayor of Tizi Ghennif, Djamel Mahmoud, acknowledged that the village was facing a number of challenges, including a shortage of clean water and problems with the road network. He noted that the distribution of water was being disrupted by leaks in the network and that there were also issues with unauthorized connections.
Mahmoud stated that the authorities were aware of the problems affecting the village and were taking steps to address them. He noted that an enterprise had been contracted to carry out repairs on the road to D'Hous and that other issues would be addressed as part of the PCD program.
The protest in Sanana highlights the frustration felt by residents of rural Algerian villages who feel that their concerns are not being addressed by local authorities. The villagers are calling for tangible action to be taken to address their concerns, and it remains to be seen whether the authorities will be able to deliver on their promises.
Key points
- Residents of Sanana village in Tizi Ghennif closed the local APC office to press for action on long-standing issues.
- The villagers are demanding action on issues including access to clean water, sanitation, and the state of the village's primary school.
- The authorities have promised to address the villagers' concerns, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to deliver on their promises.
