Algeria's Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud on Monday inaugurated a National Commission for the Prevention and Fight Against Neighbourhood Gangs, a body mandated to operate until 2029 and tasked with coordinating field operations and establishing a clear legal framework to address rising urban violence. The move follows a sharp increase in gang activity: according to the national gendarmerie, 162 gangs were dismantled in 2025 — a 59% rise compared to 2024 — and a nationwide crackdown was carried out in October of last year. The commission will also focus on social media, aiming to counter the spread of violent content online by promoting prevention messaging targeted at young people.