OFFICIAL NAME: The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia.
Area: Total: 2,381,740 sq. km. Land: 2,381,740 sq. km. Water: 0 sq. km.

Capital: Algiers

Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%; Christian and Jewish 1%.

Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects.

Located in North Africa, Algeria is often described as a gateway between Africa and Europe. Originally inhabited by indigenous tribes (identified by the Romans as “Berbers”), it faced continuous invasion. Phoenician traders settled in the area in first millennium BCE. The Romans invaded several centuries later, and had total control of the Mediterranean coast by 40 CE. After Rome fell during the fifth century, the Vandals, and then the Byzantines, invaded the area.

When the Arabs invaded in the seventh century, Algeria was inhabited by the Berbers, who presently make up only around 30 percent of the total population. By 711, all of North Africa was controlled by the Umayyad caliphate. Several Islamic Berber empires followed, most prominently the Almoravid (c.1054-1130), which extended its domain to Spain, and the Almohad (c.1130-1269).

After centuries of Spanish and Turkish rule, the French conquered Algeria in 1830. To benefit French colonists, most of whom were farmers and businessmen, northern Algeria was eventually organized into overseas departments of France and had representatives in the French National Assembly. France controlled the entire country, but the traditional Muslim population in the rural areas remained separated from the modern economic infrastructure of the European community.

Indigenous Algerians began a revolt on November 1, 1954, in order to gain rights denied them under French rule. The revolution, launched by a small group of nationalists who called themselves the National Liberation Front (FLN), was a guerrilla war that cost both sides dearly. Eventually, protracted negotiations led to a ceasefire signed by France and the FLN on March 18, 1962, at Evian, France.

The Evian accords provided for continuing economic, financial, technical, and cultural relations, along with interim administrative arrangements until a referendum on self-determination could be held. The referendum was held in Algeria on July 1, 1962, and France declared Algeria independent two days later.

A constitution was adopted in September 1963, and Ahmed Ben Bella was formally elected president. A new constitution, adopted in 1989, allowed the formation of political associations other than the FLN. It also removed the armed forces from a designated role in the operation of the government.

Several political parties emerged after this change in the constitution. The most successful was the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) which won more than 50 percent of all votes cast in municipal elections in June 1990, as well as in first stage of national legislative elections held in December 1991. Another clear victory for the FIS was denied by canceling the second round of the legislative election in January 1992. Since then, the country has suffered from severe political and economic difficulties and a continuing civil war between the government and the FIS, and FIS offshoot organizations.

A legislative election took place in May 2002. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2004.

The hydrocarbons sector, the backbone of the Algerian economy, accounts for roughly 60 percent of budget revenues, 30 percent of Gross Domestic Product, and over 95 percent of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world, is the second-largest gas exporter, and ranks fourteenth in oil reserves. Its key oil and gas customers are Italy, Spain, France, and the United States.