So what is going on in Algeria now??? After the French pulled out from Algeria, they have left the country in complete devastation. Moreover, factional rivalries with FLN that kept quiet before the independence now became visible. FLN took control over the country up through 1965. The president of FLN, Ben Bella was assasinated that year and minister of defense Boumedienne took control over the country by establishing a military rule in Algeria. Boumedienne strictly prohibited factionism and personal rule. The next president, Colonel Chadli Benjedid relaxed the FLN monopoly on political power. At that time, however, a new group, called Islamic Salvation Front was rising to power. The elections in 1992 showed an overwhelming support for the group, but those elections were cancelled by the army. Ever since then, there was a battle between two completely different ideologies to run the country -- Algeria's secularist tradition that it had inhereted from the French and the establishment of an Islamic State where Quran would be its constitution. On top of that, there are also around 30,000 armed Islamic guerillas that keep fighting for their rights. Over 60,000 people have died over this conflict, and yet massive killings continue to occure every day. It is no longer an internal civil war, but the violence had spread to Europe. When will it end? How and who can bring peace to this country?
Below are the additional resources that will help you understand the conflict further. For opinions, comments or suggestions, please refer to our FORUM.
Full coverage of Algerian
Violence by Yahoo
English Translation of Communique No. 42 dated
November 14, 1993.
FIS against Junta.
THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT NATIONAL PROVISIONAL EXECUTIVE BUREAU,
Site contains information on several of the key elements involved in the conflict,
as well as real life stories told by the Algerians.
Online
News Hour with PBS: Coverage of Algerian Crisis
Extensive coverage of the conflict, topics discussed include: Who is responsible for the violence? What are the issues? Is it an issue of the international community? What should be the international response to the situation?
The World Organization against torture from
AfricaNews
Amnesty
International on Violence in Algeria
Contains a statement and a report on violence in Algeria for 1996-1997.
New York Times Articles
United
Nations Against Violence
Daily
News Digest from Africa Update Archive
Articles from One
World News Service
Click here to listen to the report on Algerian Massacres
