Police in Albania fired rubber bullets at anti-government protesters in the capital, Tirana, on Saturday, as violent clashes escalated over demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. The confrontations marked the fifth consecutive day of unrest, with high school and university students joining a broader movement against Rama, whose Socialist Party has been in power since 2013.

The protests have amplified growing anger over issues including education, unemployment, and alleged government corruption, transforming them into a wider confrontation with the administration. Demonstrators responded to police actions by throwing stones, petrol bombs, and fireworks toward Rama’s office and other central Tirana locations. Some protesters set fire to cars and rubbish bins, creating makeshift barricades across streets.

Police countered the unrest with tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges as protesters attempted to breach security lines. The AFP news agency reported that officers used rubber bullets for the first time since the demonstrations began. National police chief Skender Hita confirmed the use of rubber bullets, stating they were deployed "in a limited manner."

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reported that nine protesters and four police officers required medical attention on Saturday. Police chief Hita also stated that 167 people had been arrested over the five days of unrest, and 132 officers sustained injuries. Seven police officers are currently suspended pending investigations into allegations of exceeding their authority.

Prime Minister Rama, currently serving his fourth term and having refused to step down, visited businesses affected by the unrest on Saturday. He pledged to listen to students and uphold their right to protest while cautioning against further destruction. Rama also accused his conservative political opponents of instigating the violence.

Students participating in the demonstrations have voiced grievances concerning high university fees, inadequate educational facilities, and limited job prospects, in addition to allegations of government corruption. At the start of Saturday's protest, demonstrators symbolically burned a suitcase and threw it into the courtyard of the Ministry of Education, signifying their refusal to seek better opportunities abroad.

"We are demanding our rights, our future and a better country," a journalism student identified as Sinan Billa told AFP. The student-led demonstrations have merged with months of ongoing anti-government rallies organized by the Flamingo movement. This movement initially focused on opposing a luxury tourism development proposed for Albania’s southern coast.

The tourism project is reportedly linked to an investment company founded by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, adding another layer of international interest to the domestic unrest.