Arabs constitute the majority of the Algerian people. The people of the Kenchela area are Berbers, an oppressed nationality that makes up about 30 percent of the population. Like the Kabyles, the largest Berber grouping, they speak a dialect of the Berber language Tamazight, but are of the Shawia ethnic group.

Daily protests and several large demonstrations have taken place in Kabylia since April 18, when an 18-year-old high school student was killed in police custody. More than 80 people have been killed.

In Khenchela residents reported that police threw tear-gas bombs into apartments and made insulting remarks to people watching from their windows before attacking people in the street. One woman was shot to death, and 90 people were injured.

On June 12 the government of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sent two government ministers to meet with local representatives, who demanded that young people who had been arrested be released.

A coordinating body of local leaderships in Kabylia has called for a protest in Algiers June 14. Berber leaders told the Associated Press, "We don’t need anyone’s permission, we have nothing to negotiate. On Thursday, we will march en masse in Algiers." A march of hundreds of thousands took place May 21 in Tizi Ouzou, and another in Algiers May 31.  
 
 
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