Elders and Wise Men: “We won’t tolerate shadowy quarters to play with fire in Guerrera”

A number of wise people and elders in the troubled town of Guerrera, in the province of Ghardaia in southern Algeria, have called for an immediate end to bloodshed between members of the rival Malekite and Mozabite communities.

Local notables have initiated awareness-raising meetings with the various protagonists in close coordination with the local authorities in a bid to smother the horrendous cycle of violence besetting Guerrera

Some mediating wise men pointed to still unidentified shadowy quarters that are fuelling the unrest between the two community members whenever the opportunity arises, they warned.

This time it was just after the end of the recent Algeria-Burkina Faso World cup qualifier and the ensuing prodded street turmoil and clashes left scores of injured and widespread material damage including the burning and ransacking of tens of shops, homes and public utility facilities in various parts of the town of Guerrera for several days in a row, they lamented.

They further urged the local population to remain vigilant and shun all provocations especially by those die-hard unobtrusive troublemakers, stressing that the latter had been covertly seeking to stoke inter-religious tension and hatred between the Malike and Mozabite communities in spite of their long-running peaceful coexistence and fruitful solidarity in the entire region of Ghardaia.