Student-led anti-government protests reached a seventh consecutive day in Tirana on Sunday, 18 October, as demonstrators called on Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. Euronews reported that hundreds gathered outside the Education Ministry before clashes spread into the city centre. Police used water cannon and tear gas; Albania’s health ministry said 28 people were injured on Sunday, including 19 police officers.

Rama rejected calls to step down. Reuters reported that he said the protests threatened Albania’s progress towards European Union membership, rather than his government. The demonstrations have been fuelled by anger over perceived corruption, jobs and education standards; students joined the wider movement in mid-October, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.

The latest escalation follows months of protests. The Associated Press reported that by Saturday, 17 October, police said 167 people had been arrested and 132 officers injured, while seven officers had been suspended pending investigations into alleged misconduct. Those figures refer to the authorities’ Saturday update; later totals may differ. JAM Radio will add sourced developments below as they are verified.