Maghreb Edition

Violence in Algeria’s football worldF

Posted On 14 January 2019

Number of times this article was read : 650

Algiers, Jan 13, 2019 – More than 300 people were injured in football-related violence during the first four months of Algeria’s football season, with hundreds arrested, police said on Sunday. Algeria has for years seen nearly weekly violence at football stadiums between supporters, while police and players have also been targeted. Giving the police tally for August to November last year, the director of public security said there had been 80 cases of violence. The unrest left “316 injured of which 215 are from police ranks,” said Aissa Naili, quoted by state news agency APS.

The figures relate to around 900 matches in various divisions, including the top two professional leagues and international matches. During the same period there were 726 arrests, including 82 minors, of which 198 people were charged. Naili also addressed an incident in which three officers were filmed
attacking a supporter after a first division match in the capital Algiers on November 13.

Following an investigation into the attack, which happened during widespread matchday violence, Naili said the case has been referred to the public prosecutor’s office. Despite sanctions and fair play campaigns, violence has continued both in and around football stadiums. In 2014 a Cameroon striker with Algeria’s JS Kabylie, Albert Ebosse, was killed on the pitch by a projectile thrown from the stands.

By AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply$

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa$

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.