Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Albania’s capital, Tirana, on Saturday for the 42nd straight day of protests, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposing a multi-billion-dollar tourism project connected to the family of US President Donald Trump.

The protesters also condemned a concert by American rapper Kanye West, who now goes by “Ye.” His planned performance has sparked criticism due to previous antisemitic remarks that have resulted in restrictions on his appearances in several European cities.

Carrying Albanian flags and plastic flamingos, demonstrators marched through the city chanting slogans against the government and the proposed development.

At the centre of the dispute is a planned luxury resort estimated to cost about $4.6 billion. The project is expected to be built in the protected Zvernec area along Albania’s Adriatic coast, a region known for its lagoon, which serves as an important habitat for migratory birds.

Developers also intend to transform the nearby island of Sazan, a former communist-era military base, into a major tourist destination.

Opponents argue that the project poses a serious threat to the environment and have raised concerns about how the land was acquired. The demonstrations, known as the “Flamingo Revolution,” take their name from the flamingos that migrate to the nature reserve where the development is planned.

Critics have also questioned the transparency of the land transactions, with some local residents claiming ownership based on long-standing property documents.

Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) has launched an investigation into the acquisition of the land, changes in ownership and the sharp increase in its value over a short period.

Authorities are examining whether the transactions complied with the law as public scrutiny over the project continues.