Algeria

Algeria

Country statistics

area:	2,381,700sq km (919,590sq mi) 31,193,000
capital (population):	Algiers (2,562,428)
government:	Socialist republic
ethnic groups:	Arab 83%, Berber 17%
languages:	Arabic, Berber (both official), French
religions:	Sunni Muslim 99%, Christianity
currency:	Algerian dinar = 100 centimes

Republic in nw Africa. Algeria is the second-largest country in Africa. Most of the people live in the n, either on the fertile coastal plains and hill country bordering the Mediterranean Sea, or in the capital Algiers, or the second-largest city, Oran. South of this region are the high plateaux and ranges of the Atlas Mountains. More than 80% of Algeria is part of the empty wastes of the Sahara. Some Tuareg nomads roam the desert with their herds.

Climate

Algiers has a Mediterranean climate: summers are warm and dry, and winters are mild and moist. The highlands in the n tend to have colder winters and warmer summers. The annual rainfall is less than 200mm (8in). The Sahara is very hot by day but becomes cool at night. In the summer, the sirocco blows from the Sahara.

Vegetation

Northern Algeria has areas of scrub and farmland, with forests on mountain slopes. The Sahara contains regions of erg (sand dunes), but most of the desert is gravel-strewn plain and bare rock. Date palms and crops flourish around every oasis.

History and Politics

By 2000 bc, Berbers had established village communities. In the 9th century bc, coastal Algeria (Numidia) formed part of Carthage's trading empire. By the end of the 2nd century bc, Rome had gained control of the coast and parts of the immediate interior. Numidia became an integral part of the Roman Empire. Saint Augustine, Saint of Hippo (now Annaba) was a casualty of the 5th-century invasion of the Vandals.

In the late 7th century, Arabs conquered Algeria and converted the local population to Islam. Arabic became the main language. In the early 10th century, the Fatimids rapidly built an Empire from their base in ne Algeria. In the late 15th century, as part of the reconquest of s Spain, the Spanish gained control of coastal Algeria. The Spanish were ousted by the Ottomans and Algeria's coast became a haven for pirates and slave traders. In 1830, France invaded Algeria and rapidly began the process of colonization. Abd al-Kadir led Algerian resistance until 1847. The European domination of the economy exacerbated discontent among the Muslim population.

During World War 2, Algiers served as Allied headquarters in North Africa. At the end of the war, nationalist demands intensified. In 1954, the National Liberation Front (FLN) launched a war of liberation that claimed more than 350,000 lives. By 1957, the 500,000-strong French military force had quashed the revolt, but not demands for independence. Despite opposition from the one million French colonists (colons) and a section of the French army (the oas), Charles De Gaulle persisted with an accord to grant Algeria independence. Following the endorsement of De Gaulle's policy in a 1962 French referendum, the OAS launched a short-lived terrorist campaign against Muslims. The colons rapidly left Algeria.

On July 3, 1962, Algeria gained independence. Ahmed Ben Bella became prime minister, then president of the newly reformed republic. In 1965, Defence Minister Colonel Houari Boumédienne overthrew Ahmed Ben Bella in a military coup. Boumédienne established a revolutionary council and stepped up the pace of reform. In 1971, he nationalized the French-owned oil and gas industries. In 1973, a national health service was established. Boumédienne died in 1978 and was succeeded by Colonel Chadli Benjedid. In 1980, an earthquake struck the nw coast, claiming nearly 5000 lives. Anti-government demonstrations and riots led to the legalization of opposition parties in 1989. In 1991, the first round of elections saw a decisive victory for the opposition Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), and Benjedid resigned as president. The second round of voting was cancelled and a military government assumed power. In 1992, the FIS was banned and Benjedid's successor, Muhammad Boudiaf, was assassinated. Muslim fundamentalists lauched a terrorist campaign. In 1995 elections, General Liamine Zeroual won a second term as president. In 1999 elections, Abdelaziz Bouteflika replaced Zeroual as president. A civil concord (1999) promised an end to a civil war that has so far claimed more than 100,000 lives. In 2001, the Berber language gained official recognition.

Economy

Algeria is a developing country (2000 GDP per capita, US$5500). Its chief resources are oil and natural gas, which were first discovered under the Sahara in 1956. Its natural gas reserves are the fifth-largest in the world; oil the 14th-largest. Gas and oil account for more than 90% of Algeria's exports. Manufactures include cement, iron and steel, textiles, and vehicles (Algeria is one of the few African states to have its own car plant). While most larger industries are owned by the government, much of light industry is under private control. Farming employs c.14% of the workforce. Barley, citrus fruits, dates, grapes, olives, potatoes, and wheat are the major crops. In 1999, unemployment stood at more than 30%. Many Algerians work abroad, especially in France.

Politcal map

Physical map