Rabat – Protests have erupted in Algeria’s capital, Algiers, following the opening of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) branch in the country.
Dozens of protestors took to the streets in a demonstration against the American fast-food giant, condemning its ties to Israel. The protest was held in Dali Ibrahim Square.
The protestors called for a boycott of all products supporting the Israeli occupation, including KFC. They demanded the authorities to shut down the branch, holding signs reading “Boycott KFC.”
Videos online showed that the demonstration led to a police intervention that used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The opening of the KFC branch in Algeria sparked outrage on social media platforms, especially since it coincided with an ongoing popular boycott campaign protesting the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) bloody war on Gaza.
“Those who approved the opening of KFC in Algeria are traitors to the nation’s values,” said one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Another social media user described the move as “a real shame.”
KFC is a subsidiary of Yum Brands, which was originally a division of PepsiCo. The company has faced boycotts worldwide due to its support for the Israeli occupation.
The fast food restaurant is one of many brands that were impacted by the boycott campaign over their support for the Israeli occupation. This includes McDonalds, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Zara, among others.
Notably, in the realm of fast food the boycott has severely affected McDonald’s sales, with the company’s Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden announcing financial losses of around €7 billion.
In response, the company decided to buy back all its 225 restaurants in Israel from its franchisee Alonyal.
The boycott against companies supporting Israel and the IOF at large has gained traction worldwide, especially in Muslim-majority countries as well as throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Since the onset of the war on Gaza in October, the IOF has claimed the lives of over 33,000 innocent Palestinians and caused widespread destruction in the besieged strip.
