Overview

• Mayor Layachi Allaoua revoked his early-July order banning men’s Bermuda shorts, saying he aimed to maintain peace and tranquility for residents and visitors
• Regional authorities in Annaba swiftly denounced the decree, prompting its reversal within two days of its announcement
• Observers link the episode to unresolved clashes between conservative religious movements and Algeria’s secular state dating back to the 1990s civil war
• In nearby Jijel, conservative residents have sectioned off beach areas for mass prayers, reflecting a broader effort to regulate public behavior along the coast
• Former tourism official Said Boukhlifa warns that economic pressures and falling gas revenues are empowering conservative groups, potentially undermining the country’s tourism sector