Algeria is the middle of the Maghreb countries in northern Africa. In terms of area, the state is not only one of the largest on the African continent, but also the tenth largest in the world. The country looks back on an eventful history.
- Algeria is considered to be the largest country in northern Africa in terms of area and is 80 percent without vegetation due to the Sahara desert.
- 99 percent of the population are committed to Islam.
- The land is owned by seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Algiers – With an area of 2,318,741 square kilometers applies Algeria not only as one of the largest countries on the African continent, but even as the tenth largest country in the world. Nevertheless, the state has only a small amount of vegetation (mainly in the coastal regions), as the majority of the area is covered by the Sahara desert is covered. Of the Islam plays an important role in the daily life of Algerians and has also repeatedly influenced the political, social and cultural life of the population.
Algeria: The cradle of the Berbers
Algeria was originally inhabited by Berber tribes. In the 12th century BC they built Phoenicians on the coast trade bases to control the great power over the Mediterranean Sea to expand – including the city Carthage (in today’s Tunisia). The Berber tribes (Moors) allied themselves under Massinissa 202 BC as the Kingdom of Numidia Rome against Carthage, the im Third Punic War was destroyed. For a long time Numidia served as Rome’s breadbasket, until the Vandals first took control. In 534 AD the area became a Byzantine province under the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.
Algeria: The Road to French Colonial Rule
In the 7th century the increasing Arabization of the country began and the population was largely Islamized. When the Spaniards tried to gain a foothold on the Algerian coast in the 16th century, the country came under the protection of the Ottoman Empire. But it was already in the 18th century Algeria practically independent.
Started in the 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte first plans for conquest Algeria by France. The aim was to combat piracy from the North African coasts and that Christianity to spread further. After various attacks, but also severe setbacks, had France Finally, in 1881, complete control of the north Algeria attained. While until second World War the Algerian Europeans acquired large parts of the fertile farmland, a large part of the Muslim Algerians became increasingly impoverished. Many Algerians ended up being employed as labor in France during the war.
After this Sétif massacre (1945), in which tens of thousands of Alterier were killed by the French army, gave rise to an Algerian independence movement. From 1954 the resistance finally became bitter Algerian war. The discovery of the systematic human rights violations led to a weakening of France in domestic and foreign policy. 1962 was Algeria officially declared independent.
Algeria: current history
After achieving independence, the National Liberation Front (FLN) initially transformed the country into a dictatorship, which later turned into a socialist people’s republic. In October 1988 riots forced the FLN to give up its position of power. Algeria now embarked on the course of democratization. From 1991 a civil war continued between the government Algeria and various Islamist groups, which ended after a victory for the government forces.
Algeria: The Political System
According to the 1996 constitution is Algeria a semi-presidential republic. The head of state is elected by the people every five years. The president appoints and dismisses the prime minister, who is responsible only to him, as chairman of the executive branch. The country’s parliament consists of the National People’s Assembly (462 members) and the Council of the Nation (96 members).
Still has Sharia Influence on the Algerian legal system. In Algeria there is still the death penalty – even if it has not been officially carried out for a decade. In recent years the UN Human Rights Committee and Amnesty International repeated criticism of the country’s human rights and democracy. Homosexuality is also illegal and in Algeria still socially ostracized.
Algeria: Facts at a Glance
- Capital: Algiers
- Official language: Arabic and Tamazight
- Area: 2,381,741 square kilometers
- Population: 42.973 million (as of 2020)
- Currency: Algerian Dinar (DZD)
- Administrative division: 58 administrative districts (Wilayat)
- Religion: Islam
Algeria: Languages and Population
The population Algeria has grown steadily over the course of the 20th century from 6.1 million (1926) to 42.2 million people (2018). Almost all Algerians have Berber origins, but only about 40 percent admit their Berber roots. In the course of Islamization in the 7th and 8th centuries, there was also a comprehensive Arabization of the population. Today 70 percent describe themselves as Arabs, 30 percent belong to the Berber tribes. The proportion of Europeans (predominantly French) has steadily declined over the past few decades.
Arabic, but also different Tamazight are now the official language. Additionally takes French still play an important role in the education, trade and transport sectors. Even if the country does not commit to Francophonie for political reasons, almost all Algerians understand French – but the degree of proficiency varies greatly.
Algeria: geography and cities
The main part of the population has been in the northern part Algeria located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean and in the Atlas Mountains. The greater southern part of the country is only sparsely populated. The desert regions in particular shape the Sahara the face of the African state. The climatic conditions of the country are also distributed. While the north has a more Mediterranean climate, the southern part has an extremely dry desert climate.
The country’s vegetation is correspondingly different. Algeria has a forest share of just 2 percent. Almost 80 percent of the country is devoid of vegetation. In addition to wild animals such as gazelles, desert foxes, barbary macaques, lizards, lizards and scorpions, various bird species are also native to the coastal and steppe regions.
The largest cities in Algeria at a glance
- 1 Algiers, residents: 1.518.083, region: Algiers
- 2 Oran, residents: 771.066, region: Oran
- 3 Constantine, residents: 507,224, region: Constantine
- 4 Annaba, residents: 383,504, region: Annaba
- 5 Batna, residents: 317.206, region: Batna
- 6 Blida, residents: 264.598, region: Blida
- 7 Sétif, inhabitants: 246,379, region: Sétif
- 8 Ech Cheliff, residents: 235.062, region: Chlef
- 9 El Djelfa, residents: 221.231, region: Djelfa
- 10 Sidi bel Abbès, residents: 208,498, region: Sidi bel Abbès
Heard economically Algeria to the richer countries in Africa, although economic life is still not very liberalized. Above all, the extraction and export of oil and natural gas are major economic factors.
Algeria: interesting facts about the country
The culture of the country is determined by influences of the former colonial power as well as Berber and Arab traditions. There are also clashes between the Berbers and the central government. One reason why many artists – especially writers – work in exile. Well-known representatives include Algerian and francophone writers such as Assia Djebar, Richard Boujedra, Yasmina Khadra and Boualem Sansal.
To the world heritage in Algeria belong to a total of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of these, six are cultural heritage sites and one is a mixed cultural and natural heritage site. The North African state ratified the World Heritage Convention in 1974. The first world heritage site was registered in 1980. These include:
- Kala’a Beni Hammad (1980): ruins of a mountain fortress from the 11th century in the province of M’Sila in northern Algeria.
- Tassili n’Ajjer (1982): A mountain range in the Sahara in the provinces of Djanet, Illizi and Tamanrasset in southeast Algeria with prehistoric rock paintings and a sparse tree population from the endangered endemic species Sahara cypress and Sahara myrtle.
- The valley of M’zab (1982): an oasis region in the province of Ghardaia in central Algeria.
- Djémila (1982): Roman ruins in the province of Sétif.
- Tipasa (1982): Ruins of the ancient Roman city of Tipasa.
- Timgad (1982): Roman ruins in the province of Batna.
- Kasbah of Algiers (1992): The historic city center in the Algerian capital Algiers.
Since 2016 there are six more sites in the tentative list Algeria which are intended for nomination for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
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