ALGERIA

Officially, MSA and Tamazight are Algeria’s main languages. Despite not being an official language, the Algerian dialect of Arabic, or Algerian Darija, is the most commonly used language throughout daily life and conversation. Algerian Darija represents Algeria’s wide range of cultural influences by featuring glimpses of standard Arabic, Spanish, Turkish, and French in its vocabulary. While French has no official slot in Algeria’s list of national languages, you’ll also hear French widely used in government, formal media, and education. Along with Tamazight, several Amazigh languages are also commonly spoken, including Kabyle, which is the most widely used of the Amazigh languages.

Algeria is an integral part of North Africa, the larger Arab world, and the region’s Amazigh community. These many communities contribute to the dynamic cultural identity of Algeria. Within the folk sounds of Rai music [i], trademark Chaabi [ii] tunes, and classic Andalusian [iii] artists, the variation in Algerian music demonstrates the many intricacies of this rich culture. Crafted goods differing by region and ranging from ceramics, textiles, silverwork and more represent the nation’s vibrant customs with each handmade piece. The country’s history is evident in cultural sights, including Algerian towns that are some of the world’s most pristinely preserved Roman sites [iv] in existence.

Algeria is a predominantly Muslim country with 99% of both Arab and Amazigh [v] Algerian populations practicing the Sunni school of Islam. The Muslim identity of Algeria [vi] serves to create unity among the many cultural identities within the Muslim world and Middle East North Africa region. In the wake of French colonialism, Islam was reinforced as a core component of Algerian nationalism. Mosques and Madrasahs, or religious schools, are consistently integral and traditional institutions in Algeria, and while many policies of the nation’s post-independence government have also encouraged more secular developments as well, the nation’s Islamic identity remains core to its identity.

Algeria is a constitutional semi-presidential Republic, where the president acts as Head of State and the prime minister serves as Head of Government. The current President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune [vii], took office in 2019 and delegated Abdelaziz Djerad [viii] as Prime Minister. Tebboune assumed office following the 20-year reign of previous President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned following months of continuous protests. In light of a constitutional mandate reinstated in 2016, the President’s tenure is now limited to a five-year term with potential for re-election once. Following the election of Tebboune, Algerians continue to demand political reform [ix] and fundamental social and political change.

Algeria’s currency is Dinar (DZD) and has an economy dominated by state-owned industries. The economy [x] is primarily supported by the export of petroleum oils and gas to Italy, Spain, and France. It is also bolstered by agricultural production, which employs about 14% of the labor force and has made strides to broaden tourism. However, despite these efforts to diversity and promote new industries beyond the energy sector, Algeria has faced continued difficulty with bureaucracy leading to a high youth unemployment rate [xi] and housing shortages. The overall unemployment rate currently sits at around 11%, but trends over twice as high for youth.

French colonization of Algeria began in 1830 and persisted until the Algerian War for Independence. The fight for independence endured from 1954 until 1962 and marked a major turning point in history. Upon independence, Ahmed Ben Bella became Algeria’s first officially elected president. In 1991, civil war ensued between the government and several rebel groups, leading the military to adopt full control of the government. The war’s violence was widespread, yet began to subside following a law permitting amnesty [xii] at the time of Bouteflika’s 1999 election. Algeria’s colonial past and history of various governmental insurgencies continue to influence today’s political stage.

Algeria is lined by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, and is uniquely positioned as a gateway between Europe and Africa. While the country spans over 6,700 kilometers (over 4,000 miles), the majority of Algeria’s population lives in the northern areas of the country due to the extreme temperatures in its southern Sahara region. Bordered by Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Libya, and Tunisia, Algeria is Africa’s largest country. The nation’s many diverse cultures are matched only by its diverse typography, where sprawling mountain ranges can be found in proximity to valleys, coastlines, mountains, and desert dunes.