The streets of Algiers are deserted Thursday following clashes between Chinese and Algerian traders, but the tension is palpable despite comments by Beijing's envoy describing the unrest as an isolated incident.
Planeloads of Chinese workers have been arriving in the North African oil producer, mainly to work on state-funded construction projects, and their presence has fuelled resentment in a country where 7 out of 10 adults under 30 are unemployed.
A diplomat at China’s embassy in Algiers said about 10 Chinese were injured and five Chinese-owned shops were looted in the fighting on Monday in the eastern district of Bab Ezzouar, an area known to locals as "Chinatown".
Local people said a confrontation between a shop owner and a Chinese motorist led to the outbreak of fighting.
"I told him not to park his car in front of my shop, but he insulted me," shopkeeper Abdelkrim Salouda, wearing a bloodstained gown, told Reuters.
"I punched him, I thought it was over, but after 30 minutes he came back with at least 50 Chinese to take revenge. It is a miracle I am still alive," said 31-year-old Salouda.
"The Chinese have taken advantage of the kindness of the Algerians. They were accepted despite their faults, today they are attacking us," added one of Salaouda’s employees Mounir.
"They drink alcohol in front of their shops and in full view of the Algerians and often parade about in shorts in the area. This sort of behavior is against our religion and our culture," said Abdellah, another resident.
Since Monday police cars have been patrolling the area along with plain clothes officers.
Salaouda believes that the Chinese traders might now, however, be regretting their behavior after they suggested mediation in order to sort out their differences amicably.
Reprisal
"We don’t want them here anymore. The only thing for them to do is to go back to China," he said, surrounded by dozens of neighbors who nodded in agreement.
The residents had also signed a petition to the authorities calling for the Chinese to be asked to leave, he added.
All the shops belonging to the Chinese traders were closed and none had appeared in public since the incidents, according to locals.
"They are afraid of possible reprisals. On Monday evening young people from neighboring areas attacked four or five shops belonging to the Chinese," said another man speaking on condition of anonymity. The police had to intervene late in the evening, he said.
China’s embassy in Algiers on Wednesday played down the violent clashes as an isolated incident unrepresentative of normal relations.
"This isolated incident does not reflect the relations between Algerians and Chinese," an embassy spokeswoman said, adding that China "had confidence in the Algerian police" to shed light on the violence.
Chinese traders have flooded the North African country, selling goods at cut throat prices and sparking growing local resentment.
The embassy spokeswoman said that China’s ambassador to Algeria had visited the scene of the violence and "asked our nationals to respect the customs and traditions of the Algerians, to promote the spirit of good neighborly ties."