Since 2012, only a few months after the start of the Arab Spring, there has been growing discontent  about the economic marginalization and the lack of socio-economic development and infrastructure, despite it being the provincial capital to the oil and gas-rich area of Hassi Messaoud. Since then, protests have been led by the CNDDC (National Committee for the defence of the Rights of the Unemployed).

In 2013, Ouargla was the site of the first move against the government's fracking plans.

Protests were held for the several weeks in February 2 015. In the middle of the town's marketplace, a tent was erected as a centre for rallying opposition, holding debates and educational events. One of the slogans put forward by the people of Ouargla is: “The people declared a moratorium on shale gas”.  Over the years, CNDDC was able to mobilise tens of thousands of people to join demonstrations, demanding decent jobs and protesting against economic exclusion, social injustice and the underdevelopment of the Ouargla region. While the protestors have been calling for a real job creation strategy, at times they have also worked closely with protestors from other sites, such as those fighting against the exploitation of shale gas in Ain Salah.

As recently as February 2017, the CNDDC were mobilising for 10 days blocking access to the local job centre to protest clientelism and and special privileges that work to keep local workers out.