Residents of major cities are beginning to “migrate” to the countryside

The security crisis which beset Algeria during the so-called “black decade” of the 90’s was marked by an overwhelming rural exodus to big cities, a second wave of the like after the first exodus which occurred in the wake of the country’s independence in July 1962.

These regions have grown in size and number, and their populations have increased by almost 3 times since  the beginning of the year 2000, with some rural areas being almost devoid of residents, including some which were completely empty during the black decade as a result of the maddening terrorist violence of that somber period.

However, we’ve recently witnessed a steady displacement of many urban dwellers to Saharan desert regions and rural areas where they take up willingly a peasant’s activity leaving behind the ear-splitting noise of the city and the painful work pressure in administrative offices.

“Echorouk” recorded the vivid testimonies of numerous citizens settled  for a long time in central Algiers who voiced their desire and longing for the rural life by expressing their firm will to quit as early as possible the stressful hubbub of urban centers.

Others have already settled in rural zones in various parts of the country including a host of university graduates and young hopefuls and even elderly people who wanted to avoid sustaining mental breakdowns or some other serious ailments provoked by the awesome hurly-burly and nuisances of the life prevailing in the big cities.

Most of them have steadily embarked in their new and quiet rural life in the countryside on farming activities and in sheep and cattle breeding with successful results up to now.