The flamingo revolution

Over the last 70 days a protest movement, known as the Flamingo Revolution, has been dominating the streets of Tirana. The original cause of the protests was the proposed development of a luxury resort by a consortium including Donald Trump’s son in law in a particularly sensitive area for nature. Over 200 species, including the flamingo, thrive there and are threatened by this proposed development and by a new airport being built in Vlora.

However, the protests soon became a means for Albanians to vent their anger and frustration at 35 years of corruption, injustice and poverty. People are tired of a form of government which serves an elite rather than the nation. A number of things stand out about the protests. One is their peaceful nature. Children have an area to draw or colour and, apart from some egg throwing, there has been little tension. Another is that the Albanian diaspora has supported the protests by coming back in droves to Tirana. Many have driven cars for hundreds of miles to join the protesters. It is still a very localised protest. There have been a few other protests but by far the biggest has been in Tirana. Opposition parties have not been allowed to hijack the protests and they have united people of all ages and political persuasions. This is the first time since democracy came that such a movement has taken place.

Protests have also erupted across the country over plans by the government to reduce the number of town halls in Albania. This has led people to burn their Socialist Party membership cards and come out on the streets to protest. Socialist mayors whose administration will be merged into other areas have raised their voices against this plan.

In the meantime, the number of Albanians leaving the country continues and the government is planning an agreement with Vietnam to bring thousands of low cost workers into the country.

• Pray that government in Albania will be for the best interests of the people and not politicians and oligarchs. Pray “for the welfare of the city.”
• Pray too for those who rule in Albania that they would do so in the fear of the Lord.
• Pray that the exodus of Albanians will come to an end and that the gospel will follow after those who have left the country.
• Pray for local churches and gospel workers: Albania is turning from a monocultural country to a multicultural one and churches will need to find ways to reach foreign workers coming into the country. It will be harder for churches to be self sustaining as time goes on as so many believers leave the country.
• Pray that Albanians will turn to God on a large scale. Pray that they will not pin their hopes on protests or political parties but on Christ alone. True change will only occur when the gospel transforms lives and communities.