One dies in clashes between Algerian security forces and football fans

At least a young man died in violent incidents involving football fans and security forces in Algiers that left scores injured, as the regime tries to quell any protests or unrest that could lead to the rebirth of the pro-democracy Hirak protests.

The clashes followed a chaotic organization by Algerian authorities of an African confederation game opposing Algiers MCA to Tunisia’s Mounastir.

Videos shared online showed MCA fans attacked by security forces in the stands, as well as attacks on visiting Tunisian fans amid generalized.

The Algerian media chose to turn a blind eye to the violent incident that once again cast a shadow over security concerns in games hosted by Algeria.

Algerian opposition figures said the crackdown on Mouloudiya fans took place at a tense political climate marked by large-scale indifference to a recent presidential election that gave President Teboune a second term, amid deteriorating social and economic conditions.

The fierce intervention of the Algerian security forces was documented by multiple videos on line showing law enforcement agents using excessive violence against fans.

Some fans chanted pro-democracy slogans of the 2019 Hirak protests that forced then President to give up a fifth term.

Algeria has acted pre-emptively to quell any calls for a new Hirak going as far as banning pro-Palestinian marches for fear slogans could derail to denounce local corruption and military rule.