Algeria

Algeria, officially the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. The capital and most populous city is Algiers, located in the far north of the country on the Mediterranean coast. 

The Northern Africa country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in north, Tunisia in northeast, Libya in east, Morocco in west, Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali in southwest, and by Niger in the southeast. In Algeria, there are three official languages: Arabic, French, and Amazigh (Berber). About 99% of Algerians are Sunnah Muslims.

Governance

The government system is a republic; the chief of state and head of government is the president. Algeria has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning, and government regulation.

Its formal governance system has a democratic character since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. The President of the Republic is the highest authority in the state. In accordance with the constitution, the president has to be elected by universal suffrage for a single presidential term of 5 years. This term can be only extended for another one. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn appoints the Council of Ministers. The local currency is the Algerian Dinar (1 dinar = $ 0.0083).

The most important natural resources in Algeria are oil, natural gas, iron, phosphates, uranium, lead and zinc. Algeria has a large reserve of crude oil estimated at 12 billion barrels, in addition to a huge gas reserve of 4.5 trillion cubic meters in 2018. Algeria is ranked eighth in the world in gas production.

Algeria is currently growing at a steady pace. In 2020 Algeria’s population is estimated at 43,851,044 people at mid year according to UN data. Algeria population is equivalent to 0.56% of the total world population. Algeria ranks number 33 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population. The population density in Algeria is 18 per Km 2 (48 people per mi 2).

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By 2049, Algeria is projected to surpass 60 million people and continue growing through the end of the century. Algeria’s population is projected to be 70.72 million by 2099. Algeria is currently growing at a rate of 1.85% per year, a rate that adds over 800,000 people to the population every year.

Today Algeria is recovering and developing into an emerging economy, and natural gas and oil profits are being used to improve the infrastructure of the country. The country is the world’s 10th largest. Oil and gas reserves were discovered there in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the northern coast.

The country remains dependent on electricity output from fossil fuels, however its government has plans to significantly improve the country’s solar energy capacity by developing solar energy plants. The country is targeting at least 22 GW production of power from renewable resources by 2030, including at least 13.6 GW from photovoltaic (PV) solar.

Algeria’s water resources depend on rainwater in the north (ranging between 400 and 670 millimeters per year in the coastal region), in addition to the waters of the valleys and rivers. The Chlef River is the largest one in Algeria with a length of 725 km.

Most of the population resides along the Mediterranean coast, while the Sahara and its extreme climate dominate the country. Although an integral part of the Maghreb and the larger Arab world.

Algeria is the continent’s biggest country and travelling between major cities can take a lot of time and nerves as well, while the distances in the more populated north are not so big and a trip from the east to the west can be done in a 12 hours on highway.

History

Located in the fertile coastal plain of North Africa, Algeria served as a transit region for people migrating to Europe and the Middle East. As such, the inhabitants of the region have been greatly influenced over the centuries by populations from many areas.

In Antiquity, Algeria was known as the kingdom of Numidia and its people were called the Numidians.The kingdom of Numidia had early relations with the Carthaginians, Romans and Ancient Greeks, the region was considered a fertile area, and the Numidians were known for their fine cavalry.

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Emerging from this mix, the Berber people staked a claim to the land, and dominated until the coming of the Arabs and spread of Islam. Before the Arab invasion, Phoenician traders began arriving around 900 BC, creating the city of Carthage (in present-day Tunisia) and establishing trade links with the Berbers. As the Carthaginian’s power over the region increased, the Berbers began recruiting into their army, and by the 4th century BC they formed the largest portion of the Carthaginian army. Following the First Punic War, Berber soldiers rebelled after not being paid for their work, and succeeded in gaining control of a significant portion of Carthage’s North African territory. The Carthaginian state subsequently began to decline, and by 146 BC had been completely destroyed.

The Arabs arrived in the mid-7th century, and vast changes occurred in the region’s social and economic relations with the introduction of Islam and Arabic.

After enduring centuries of conquerors, military rulers and controlling empires, including the Ottoman Empire and Turks, Algeria fell under French rule in 1830.

Algeria’s modern borders were created by the French, and during their domination a large part of the Algerian national identity was formed through the struggle to survive, co-exist, gain equality and achieve independence.

The movement for independence began during World War I (1914–18) and gained momentum after French promises of greater self-rule in Algeria went unfulfilled after World War II (1939–45). In 1954 the National Liberation Front (FLN) began a guerrilla war against France and sought diplomatic recognition at the UN to establish a sovereign Algerian state.

Although Algerian fighters operated in the countryside particularly along the country’s borders the most serious fighting took place in and around Algiers, where FLN fighters launched a series of violent urban attacks that came to be known as the Battle of Algiers (1956–57). French forces (which increased to 500,000 troops) managed to regain control but only through brutal measures, and the ferocity of the fighting sapped the political will of the French to continue the conflict.

In 1959 Charles de Gaulle declared that the Algerians had the right to determine their own future. Despite terrorist acts by French Algerians opposed to independence and an attempted coup in France by elements of the French army, an agreement was signed in 1962.

Algeria’s primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since largely dominated politics. In 1962, Algeria gained its independence and over 1 million French fled the country.

Politics

• idential candidates in June and delayed the election scheduled for July.
• The Hirak denounced the list of candidates for their ties to the old administration and boycotted the election, which earned a historically low turnout rate.The former prime minister Abdelmajid Tebboune was elected president in a December poll.
• Mr Tebboune has pledged to carry out the necessary reforms, but the former civil servant faces a serious challenge in winning over public trust.

Freedom of Expression and Belief

Although some newspapers are privately owned and some journalists remain aggressive in their coverage of government affairs, most papers rely on government agencies for printing and advertising, encouraging self-censorship. Authorities sometimes block distribution of independent news outlets that are based abroad or online. In June 2019, the government blocked access to news websites Tout sur l’Algérie and Algérie Part without explanation, and more websites were blocked in August. Viewers can access unlicensed private television channels located in Algeria but legally based outside the country, though these are subject to government crackdowns.

Authorities use legal mechanisms to harass the media and censor or punish controversial reporting. As a result, journalists and bloggers face brief detentions, short jail terms, suspended sentences, or fines for offenses including defamation and “undermining national unity.” In March 2019 a court freed Merzoug Touati, a blogger who had been arrested in 2017 for conducting an interview with an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson and publishing it online.

Since the beginning of the Hirak protests, police have intensified arbitrary arrests to intimidate journalists. In February 2019, a dozen journalists were briefly arrested at a sit-in against media censorship. In July, a journalist accused the police of using physical and verbal violence against him during his brief arrest in the port town of Annaba.

Foreign correspondents have found themselves expelled from Algeria on several occasions in 2019. In March, Reuters journalist Tarek Amara was expelled after reporting on a protest against former president Bouteflika. In April, Aymeric Vincenot, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) bureau chief, was forced to leave the country after his accreditation was not renewed. In May, a Moroccan journalist was briefly detained and subsequently expelled.

Tourism

Algeria has a very visible police presence throughout the country, as well as many plain-clothes police officers. Petty theft and home burglary occur frequently in low income areas, and occasionally in affluent neighborhoods.

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The country offers tourists sites such as its majestic mountains, a beautiful coastline, 10 world famous national parks, and numerous historical and religious sites. For outdoor enthusiasts, remember to bring your hiking boots so you can explore the Sahara Desert, high mountains, and beautiful oases.

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This huge landmass is dominated by the Atlas Mountains of the north and the vast barren reaches of the Sahara Desert, central and south. In fact the country is over 80% desert, including (3) gigantic sand seas.

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Within Algeria, domestic flights provide a popular, safe, and convenient way to travel directly to the southern cities without the need for a guide. Taxis, buses, and railways supply another option, although driving alone is hazardous, owing to the unpaved roads and the risk of highway robbery in rural areas.

Algiers

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Algiers which is nestled between the Mediterranean and the steep, forested hills that form its backdrop. The city rich history can be seen in its architecture, from its Moorish mosques, Ottoman-style palaces and the Kasbah, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, to its Berber fortifications, French colonial houses and modern boulevards.

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The Romans and remains one of the most exotic destinations on the planet founded Algiers, the capital city, in the 10th century. Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and its main population centers are located along the Mediterranean Sea coastline.

Climate

The northern part of Algeria enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild and relatively rainy winters. and temperatures ranges between 21-24 ° C in summer and 02-12 ° C in winter.

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In general, rains are irregular. Sometimes they are very strong and distributed unevenly. There are no rains during summer. Rains are heavy in the mountains during winter. The same applies to rains in the high highlands during spring. The desert areas are characterized by absolute droughts that are occasionally interrupted by unexpected rains.

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Algeria is characterized by a series of low coastal plains such as the plains of Oran, El Moujida and Annaba. These plains are famous for the production of crops, vegetables and fruits. High interior plains in Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbes, El Sarso and Constantine are used in cultivating grains and vineyards. In addition, there are two parallel mountain ranges: the high Atlas at the north and the Saharan Atlas at the South.

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The height of these mountains ranges between 800 and 1,000 meters. These series of mountains are interspersed with salt-water lowlands. In addition, there are mountainous heights between the north and south of Algeria. These series consist of a chain that extends for a length of 700 km, which forms a natural barrier in the face of the desert. These mountains are interspersed with natural paths through which runs the most important means of transportation between the desert and the north. The mountain of Aures is the highest mountain in this region (at 2,329 m at the top of Jebel Chelia).

Economy

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Algeria is one of a handful of countries that have achieved 20% poverty reduction in the past two decades. The Algerian government took significant steps to improve the wellbeing of its people by implementing social policies in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The country’s oil boom has enabled the authorities to clear Algeria’s external debt, invest in infrastructure projects, and improve the country’s Human Development Indicators.

For instance, Algeria has significantly improved its human capital development: its position on the World Bank Human Capital Index (HCI) that measures five key indicators in health and education is 93rd out of 157 countries. Between 2012 and 2017, its HCI value remained more or less constant at 0.52, however in 2017, it was lower than the average for its region and income group.

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Algeria is considered to have achieved universal primary education with a 97% Primary Net Enrollment Rate in 2015 (with gender parity) and equally elevated higher education enrollment rates. Going forward, the government needs to improve the quality of education, as Algeria ranked 71 out of 72 economies for the performance of its 15-year-olds in science, mathematics, and reading in the 2015 PISA assessments.

Although these still largely positive results of shared prosperity have contributed to Algeria’s overall socioeconomic stability, the costs of underlying social programs and subsidies are no longer affordable amid persistently moderate oil prices. The restrained upside in worldwide oil prices have necessitated changes in resource-rich country economic models, and triggered a domino effect of reforms in MENA oil exporting countries to adapt. Similar to its neighbors, Algeria’s hydrocarbon revenues have halved in the recent years, contributing to a rapid decrease in its currency reserves, which albeit still remain at a very high level.

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Algeria’s economy is highly dependent on hydrocarbons, and on global oil and gas prices. GDP growth reached 1.5 percent in 2018, compared to 1.4 percent in the previous year, and was sustained at 1.5 percent the first quarter of 2019. Growth in the hydrocarbon sector was slow, with economic activity contracting by 6.5 percent in 2018 and 7.7 percent in Q1 2019, partially offsetting the slight increase in non-hydrocarbon growth at 3.4 percent and 3.9 percent respectively.

Commercial services, industrial, construction, and public works continue to drive non-hydrocarbon growth. Exports of goods and services contracted in real terms by 6.4 percent in Q1-2019, driven by a decline in hydrocarbon exports due to rising domestic demand and stagnant production. At the same time, the import of goods and services has increased by 4.1 percent despite the slowdown in the economy which has resulted in a wider trade and account deficit. The fast erosion in official reserves has pushed the government to take additional steps to tighten imports, through new operational mechanisms to regulate wheat and milk imports, and through better controls on subsidies. Algeria ranked 132nd in the world for mobile speeds and 172nd for fixed broadband speeds during June 2020.

The budget and primary deficits have improved in 2018, reaching 7.6 percent and 4.9 percent of GDP respectively, due to a slight increase in revenues and lower spending on goods, services, and wages, as well as on capital spending. Inflation remained stable at 4.3 percent in 2018 and has declined at 4.3 percent in 2018 and has declined to 4.1 percent in end-March 2019.

Recently, Algeria’s unemployment rate is at 26.9 percent for the population between 16 and 25 years old. The unemployment rate reached 11.7 percent as of October 2018 and is higher among the youth (29 percent in April 2018), women (19.4 percent) and university graduates (18.5 percent) as a result of the skills mismatch in the labor market.

There are no recent poverty estimates for the country, but official numbers from 2010/2011 show that 5.5 percent of the population was considered poor, with large regional variations and higher concentration in the Sahara and the Steppe regions. These estimates are based on poverty lines of less than US$3.6/day which is far below the US$5.5 poverty line associated with upper middle-income countries.

Algeria’s economic freedom score is 46.9, making its economy the 169th freest in the 2020 Index. Its overall score has increased by 0.7 point due to an improvement in the property rights score.