Albania protests: Tirana clashes enter fourth day as Rama blames 'foreign hands'

Protesters and police clashed in Tirana on Friday for the fourth consecutive day. Thousands of people have demonstrated in the Albanian capital. They are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and protesting poor university conditions.

Police used tear gas and water cannon. Protesters threw stones at security forces. Government buildings, including the finance ministry, have been attacked this week. According to a police statement, 160 people were detained on Thursday over acts of violence. Al Jazeera described them as alleged acts of violence. Media reports cited by France 24 and Al Jazeera say the protests have spread to other cities.

On Friday, Rama blamed unnamed "foreign hands" for the unrest. In a video, he said these are "foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace". He said the protest had "absolutely nothing to do with the hardships, problems or legitimate aspirations of anyone who desires a better life". He has linked the protests to Albania's bid to join the European Union.

The unrest follows months of anti-government protests. They were first sparked by a controversial resort development linked to the family of US President Donald Trump.

According to France 24, Interior Minister Ervin Demo said 156 people had been injured in recent days, including 97 police officers. He said excessive police force had been registered in two instances and two officers had been suspended. An AFP journalist saw masked groups smashing shop fronts and looting stores. Al Jazeera, citing local media, reported protests in Elbasan, Shkodra and Korca. It also reported that during the days of unrest protesters set fire to several buildings in Tirana, including the prime minister's office.

What each side says

Rama said: "All of this is the work of the very same hand, the hand that has gripped the Albanian opposition by the throat", according to France 24. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying: "This is not a student phenomenon." He rejected calls to resign but said he was ready to discuss rising education costs, according to Al Jazeera. France 24 reports that Rama has routinely accused protesters of being manipulated by foreign interests without providing details or evidence.

In a statement quoted by France 24, Demo called the unrest "a disguised attempt by those who seek to seize power through violence".

Ledia, an 18-year-old high school student, told AFP: "We are not criminals. We simply want a better life for our parents and ourselves. We do not want to leave Albania."

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include evidence for Rama's "foreign hands" claim, and they do not say whom he means. They do not include a response from the opposition or any reaction from the European Union.

Analysis

The protests combine grievances over education costs with broader demands, according to the outlets, while the government frames them as externally driven. The reports do not include evidence supporting either the foreign-interference claim or a link between masked looters and student demonstrators, which leaves key questions open. One possible path is talks on education costs, which Rama has said he is open to. Another is continued confrontation, with rising detention and injury figures. How the unrest affects Albania's EU bid is uncertain, and the reports do not include any reaction from Brussels.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.