Oil and sugar prices occulted the Algerian society's old demons
In a disparate move to avoid a large scale popular uprising, the government has resorted to set a limit for the prices’ surge of oil and sugar to 600 Algerian Dinars per 5 liters and 90 Algerian Dinars per kilogram, brushing aside the numerous problems that undermine social stability.
- The latest upheaval that set ablaze various provinces of Algeria over oil and sugar prices’ hike have overshadowed much more serious problems including the housing one. At a time when thousands of social housing units are irregularly distributed, the authorities have increased the participation fees for those willing to acquire a promotional housing unit to 840 thousand Algerian Dinars for the category of employees whose wages exceed 24 thousand AD.
- Slums scattered on the peripheries of the major Algerian cities have become a common sight and grew a fertile terrain for devastating social problems.
- Many employees are forced to rent houses at an average price estimated at 15 thousand AD, which is the minimum guaranteed wage, while others who can afford it have to pay between 28 and 30 thousand AD for 6 or 12 months at one time.
- Those problems have pushed scores of desperate youngsters to venture with their lives on makeshift boats to reach the European shores, where it seems that the grass is greener, but unfortunately many of them died in tragic circumstances.
- The latest unrests have suddenly overshadowed various financial scandals that hit major public companies including the Hydrocarbons one and other cases of corruption and dilapidations, regarded by the mosques’ preachers in their Friday preaches as one of the major causes for these upheavals.