Potato crisis – a symbol of Algeria's struggling economy

Algeria is facing a multi-faceted crisis. The urgency is mainly economic. The recession, fueled last year by the drop in oil prices and exacerbated by the corona pandemic, threatens millions of Algerians to be unable to bring decent food to the table. Families have been hit by the government's decision last month to end subsidies for staple food and energy products, which amount to more than $17 billion a year. The economic hardship is increasingly measured by the shortage of a basic product: the potato. The price of potatoes on the Algerian market has almost tripled in a few months. The potato has become a symbol of the country's deteriorating economic situation, fueling the anger of poor families and increasing the risk of protests. The potato growers pointed the finger at the local ...