Albania unrest escalates as prime minister accuses foreign forces of stoking protests

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused external forces of driving escalating youth demonstrations demanding his departure, as violent confrontations between protesters and security personnel continued for a fourth straight day.

In a video statement delivered on Friday, Rama alleged that "foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace" were behind the unrest. Dismissing the demonstrations as detached from genuine grievances, he argued that the movement had "absolutely nothing to do with the hardships, problems or legitimate aspirations of anyone who desires a better life."

The prime minister's remarks followed fresh street battles outside the education ministry in Tirana. Thousands of young demonstrators gathered in the capital to voice anger over state corruption and deteriorating conditions in the nation's universities. Law enforcement personnel deployed tear gas and water cannon against crowds who threw stones, bricks, and concrete chunks.

The unrest has extended outside Tirana to regional cities including Korca, Shkodra, and Elbasan. Local news reports indicated that demonstrators in those areas shattered windows and set trash bins ablaze. Across the capital, previous days of agitation saw targets widen to include financial institutions and official facilities. Fires were ignited at bank branches as well as government sites, including the finance ministry, justice ministry, and the prime minister's own office. Police stated that 160 individuals were taken into custody on Thursday evening in connection with the violence.

The current turmoil marks an escalation from months of demonstrations that were largely peaceful. Those earlier rallies were initially triggered by government plans to sell coastal territory for a high-end resort development tied to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump.

Alongside calls for Rama to step down, protesters are pressing for comprehensive education improvements and electoral changes. While Rama expressed a willingness to examine the escalating costs of higher education, he firmly rejected demands to quit his post. He maintained that stepping down would violate the trust of voters who granted him a mandate to guide Albania into the European Union.

Albania's bid for EU accession faces scrutiny over governance issues and organized crime, with the nation frequently cited by analysts as a transit and laundering corridor for illicit drug and weapons networks. Rama secured a fourth term in office last year after pledging to finalize European Union entry negotiations, setting a target date as soon as 2028.