Forgotten world (39): Algeria

Civil war broke out in Algeria in 1992 after the army cancelled elections that Islamist parties were set to win. Up to 200,000 people died in an orgy of violence that pitched the army, and its secular supporters, against some 27,000 fundamentalists, with the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) as the leading organisation.
Today the main Islamist group is the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). This has vowed allegiance to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, although it operates independently.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is leading a genuine, if controversial, attempt to bring about reconciliation. His amnesty laws have been backed by a referendum. However, the amnesty has angered the victims of Islamist atrocities, who claim perpetrators are being let off. The armed forces have also escaped being held to account for their part in the killing.
Although we never hear about it, there are still two or three terrorist attacks a week, targeting the police or army.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 12th, 2006 at 7:07 am and is filed under World current affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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