According to economists, this is a situation that hides the economic and financial difficulties that this country is experiencing and whose corollary has been a strong depreciation of the Dinar, restrictions imposed on imports and the great anger that is gaining ground among an exasperated population.
In recent times, shortages have taken a serious turn, as evidenced by the overheating and disappearance of essential food products, such as potatoes, onions, milk and vegetable oil.
Worse, chicken, once within the reach of low- and middle-income households, has become a rare commodity. Adding to Algerians’ anger are sometimes the endless queues to get a bag of milk or a can of subsidized oil.
These recurring and persistent shortages, which have surprised many, remain, for the most part, hard to swallow.
Previously, such a situation only occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, but this time, thanks to the hasty measures decided by the public authorities to rationalize imports, which should be exceptional, the crisis is becoming more permanent and the rule.
Unprecedented. Algerians are affected in their daily food supply and cannot find satisfactory and convincing answers or at least ways to restore order to ensure a regular supply at reasonable prices.
Instead of facing up to a complex reality, the authorities prefer to dodge the issue in order to exonerate themselves from their responsibilities.
They blame the market supply failure on speculators, media rumors and buying frenzy.
A headlong rush that poorly conceals an inability to put one’s finger on the problem, on the deep-seated reasons that are at the origin of a situation that is a source of widespread anger and worry.
We deign to forget that this country of 43 million inhabitants is 70% dependent on foreign countries to meet the food needs of its population.
Result: The public debate focuses not on fundamental, strategic issues, such as food security in particular, but on subjects describing the suffering of Algerians who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with incessant shortages, soaring prices, speculation and the inertia of public authorities who, as always, are content to lull Algerians with false illusions by invoking false alibis.
Algerian leaders see behind any problem related to their management of the country the “invisible hand” or the “foreign enemy”.
Faced with the soaring prices of fruit and vegetables, the Minister of Commerce, Kamel Rezig, did not hesitate to point the finger at “the invisible hand”, responsible, according to him, for “prefabricated crises”.
According to observers, by brandishing this “invisible hand from abroad” at each crisis, Algerian citizens have clearly understood that the leaders are seeking to hide their failures in all areas behind this famous “hand”.
Moreover, the survey conducted in 2019 by “Arab Barometer”, an independent organization, partner of Princeton University in the United States, highlights that “40% of Algerians surveyed say that the economic and financial situation represents the main challenge that their country must face”.
The main conclusion drawn shows that “Algerians are more afraid of the deterioration of the economic and financial situation of their country and the impact of corruption on daily life than of threats coming from outside.”
On the ground, Algerians have been living a real ordeal since the beginning of this autumn. The price of potatoes on the market has seen a spectacular increase and has been the catalyst for the anger of the poorest citizens in several cities. The prices of this product, which has curiously disappeared from the stalls, have soared.
The kilo has risen to 150 dinars (nearly one euro) in a few days. The General Union of Algerian Craftsmen and Traders (UGCAA) attributes the rise in prices of consumer goods to the drought and massive speculation.
The same argument was developed by the government, which opted for evasions by rushing to quickly prepare a bill to “counteract the dangerous scourge of speculation and preserve the purchasing power of citizens”.
In reality, this unprecedented situation hides a hidden reality. These are the major difficulties that the country has been going through since 2020 and which it is seeking to remedy by means of expedients.
It is estimated that over the last ten years, the Algerian dinar has lost 77% of its value against foreign currencies. Hence the worrying erosion of purchasing power, unemployment whose rate is around 14% and inflation (2.4% in 2020), as well as the vulnerability of the most fragile social classes.
2024-09-01 12:56:34