Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika [official profile, in French] on Wednesday issued an emergency plan [press release] to combat the ethic driven civil unrest in the southern city of Ghardaia. It is reported [AP report] that 22 people have died due the violence exhibited within the region by rival gangs. The plan issued by President Bouteflika places the area’s military commander in charge to work to ensure security, justice and development. The efforts announced by the Algerian government is not the first action to ensure security in the region. as the unrest has been a reoccurring issue over the past years. The new plan in place also includes measures to help promote social and economic development.

Prior to the election of President Bouteflika, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] in 2014 expressed concern [JURIST report] about Algerian authorities suppressing demonstrations in the weeks leading up to the Algerian elections. During Algeria’s 2012 elections, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Peaceful Assembly and Association urged Algeria to use its upcoming legislative elections to address concerns [JURIST report] about inadequate freedoms of expression and association. In December 2011 Algeria passed a controversial media law [JURIST report] preventing journalists from undermining the Algerian government and its policies and security. Earlier that year a UN rights expert called on Algeria to guarantee freedoms [JURIST report] of opinion and expression to its people. This came a week after Bouteflika promised to reform [JURIST report] the country’s constitution and change its election laws to appease political protesters. The government lifted its 19-year state of emergency [JURIST report] the month before amid protests.