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Tirana Protests Spread to Other Cities as Students Boycott Universities
Protests that began in Tirana spread on Friday to other Albanian cities with smaller-scale violence and student boycotts of universities, according to media reports, as thousands demand Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 17, 2026
• 2 Min Read
Fourth day of clashes in the capital
While the movement widened beyond the capital, Tirana itself saw a fourth straight day of confrontation on Friday. Police fired tear gas and water cannons as demonstrators hurled stones and set garbage bins ablaze to block roads. According to AFP journalists, protesters also tried to force their way into government offices on the capital's main boulevard.
Fighting went on into the night in several parts of the city.
Damage across the city
The week's unrest has left a visible mark on central Tirana. Shopfronts have been smashed, and several government buildings were attacked, among them the finance ministry.
An AFP journalist witnessed further destruction first-hand:
- •Masked groups smashing shop fronts and looting stores
- •Similar scenes reported in other parts of the city
How the movement began
The Tirana protests started with hundreds of people gathering outside the education ministry, chanting 'Rama resign!'. Since Tuesday, thousands have taken to the streets demanding the prime minister's resignation over university conditions and high tuition fees.
Among the demonstrators was Ledia, an 18-year-old high school student identified only by her first name, who told AFP: 'We are not criminals. We simply want a better life for our parents and ourselves. We do not want to leave Albania.'
Government response
Police said in a statement that 160 people were detained for acts of violence on Thursday. Authorities have reported dozens injured since Tuesday, mostly police, and Interior Minister Ervin Demo said Friday that 156 people had been injured in recent days, including 97 police officers.
Demo said earlier that excessive police force had been registered in two instances and two police officers had been suspended. In a statement, he called the unrest 'a disguised attempt by those who seek to seize power through violence.' He added: 'I would also like to remind you that we have far more reason to come together and work for the good of our country than to clash.'
Fighting continued into the night in several parts of Tirana on Friday, with media reporting protests and student boycotts in other cities as well.
