ALGER – On Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Algiers Court ordered the Judicial Police services of the various relevant security forces to open immediate, thorough and urgent investigations, following the dissemination on social networks, of videos showing individuals on board lorries dumping large-scale foodstuffs and various types of vegetables suitable for consumption in places outside the urban fabric, in order to prevent their distribution and thereby create a shortage on the market and speculate on prices.
The content of the communiqué of the Algiers Court prompted a broad reaction from citizens and numerous comments on social networks, in order to express, on the one hand, the great satisfaction with the diligence shown by the judiciary and the crucial importance given to this issue because of its major impact on society, and, on the other hand, a profound indignation at the persistence of some traders in breaking the laws, in desperate attempts to counter the rigorous, comprehensive and integrated measures decided by the President of the Republic, Mr Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the last Council of Ministers, aimed at strengthening the protection of prioritization of citizens.
By reading the content of the communiqué, it follows that the State is determined to strike with an iron hand anyone who dares to touch the food of Algerians, especially since the high authorities of the country show a firm will to eradicate practices of price manipulation, monopoly and speculation, by attacking their roots. This is evident from the accuracy of the contents of the communiqué and its explicit indications, which indicate a deep understanding of the extent of such criminal acts and a firm willingness to provide a comprehensive judicial and security response targeting the very origin of these practices, in the context of a merciless struggle, without sparing any party or actor involved.
The press release is marked by extreme rigour and firmness in the way in which judicial and security institutions intend to deal with these criminal acts, especially since the acts mentioned are not only criminal in nature, but are also aimed at undermining the purchasing power of the citizen and public order, or even public health, and thereby undermining the national economy.
In addition, the involvement of citizens and civil society actors in order to be more vigilant and to help preserve the food of citizens by pointing out these reprehensible practices to the competent judicial and security services, gives this approach an integrated character targeting these acts, which the communiqué calls precisely “behaviours which cannot be considered as isolated acts or as passive acts”, within the framework of an approach which takes into account all aspects and angles surrounding this crime, which is aimed at society, citizens’ food, the national economy and stability, hence the imperative of greater mobilization of State services.
It should be noted that the criminal parties that planned and carried out these strange practices in Algerian society, won by despair and discouragement, soon tried to sow confusion and counter the concrete, comprehensive and integrated measures decided by the President of the Republic to stem everything that might affect the purchasing power of citizens.
The Government immediately began implementing the decisions of the President of the Republic, followed by the competent departments of the sectors concerned and the local authorities, in particular by beginning to implement storage projects, support producers and regulate production and distribution mechanisms, among other measures, in addition to carrying out extensive field trips to cities and neighbourhoods, with a view to strengthening control and regulating markets, which had a significant and direct effect on their regulation.
The measures decided by the President of the Republic on this subject, based on seven complementary and immediate decisions, as contained in the communiqué of the last meeting of the Council of Ministers, were welcomed by the citizens, who highlighted the State’s commitment to the citizen and showed a deep awareness of vile practices and shameful actions aimed at the food of citizens, as well as the ramifications of the parties involved in these crimes aimed at destabilizing society.