Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad slammed on Tuesday activists in the country’s protest movement for pushing people to protest and not to wear masks.
“They have political goals behind urging citizens to protest without wearing protective masks in light of the coronavirus pandemic,” he stressed. “Their purpose is to spread chaos.”
He was referring to demonstrations organized by activists from the protest movement, known as “Hirak”, on Friday in the tribal areas, eastern Algeria. They were attempts to resume the popular movement, which has been suspended since March due to the health crisis.
The Prime Minister pledged to provide all the necessary “financial and materialistic resources” to end poverty in 15,000 areas the government has considered the most underserved in terms of health services, sanitation, and education.
During his visit to Tindouf province, southwestern Algiers, Djerad told the media that: “Algerian officials shall be aware that many people are struggling in marginalized areas. They need roads, means of transportation, water, gas, and electricity, and upon President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s request, it is our duty to provide them with all this.”
The Premier stressed the importance of containing these areas to be on the list of priorities, noting that the Interior Ministry and local have been following the development process in this regard.
The government is determined to lift these marginalized areas as soon as possible and make sure all citizens feel they are supported and equal no matter where they live, he stressed.
Djerad didn’t mention the necessary financial allocations for development projects in these areas, many of which are in the desert, including Tindouf.
Economic experts wonder about the financial resources available for the government to launch major infrastructure projects in thousands of undeveloped regions since the colonial era.
Algeria has been suffering from a great income shortage due to the drop in oil prices since 2014 and to the decline in oil production.
Hydrocarbons are the only source of hard currency income for the country, which imports almost all its needs from manufactured and semi-manufactured materials, pills, and medicine.
