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Africa: Algeria Soldiers On Despite Terrorism

Laeed Zaghlami

18 January 2008

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analysis

Nairobi — The year 2008 will be one of more precarious socio-economic conditions and insecurity in Algeria, predicts journalist Najia Bouaricha from El Watan, an Algerian privately-owned newspaper.

In her analysis of the situation, Bouaricha writes that although Algeria isn't poor, most of its population suffers misery and deprivation. 'Poor people in a rich country" she calls the situation.

Further, the country faces new terrorism challenges in the wake of the December 11 suicide bomber attack in Algiers that killed 40 people and the second similar attack in the first week of January on the Naciria police station in Boumeders district 45 kilometres east of Algiers. Four people died and 23 were injured.

In both events, the El Qaeeda group in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility on the internet.

Now, Algerian security forces find it very hard to cope with this new suicide bomber phenomenon, notes journalist Adlene Meddi. Although he writes that security forces have wiped out a sizable number of the Combat and Predication Salafist Group (El Qaeeda) members in the Islamic Maghreb, many are either arrested or have surrendered.

However terrorist groups are innovative and recruit new followers that are not known to security forces and establish hardly noticeable new urban networks.

At a broad level, Louis Caprioli a French terrorism expert and special adviser to the International Group on Prevention and Risks Management, affirms that "Algeria is a victim of the internationalisation of terrorism."

Although Algeria has secured over hundreds of billions of US dollars in oil exports, poverty levels remain high.

Journalist Hassen Moali notes that the privatisation of public enterprises is still swinging between different commercial rivalries and approaches by the government.

In addition to that, political uncertainty abounds about the implications of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's possibility of seeking a third term.

Although Bouteflika has not been open about it, the National Liberation Front, as an active member of the presidential coalition parties along side the National Democratic Rally and the Islamic Movement for Peaceful Society (Hams), are exerting pressure on him to run in the 2009 presidential elections.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem, the Chief of Government and Secretary General of the leading National Liberation Front, has been calling for the revision of the 1996 constitution in order to waive the present presidency restrictions to only two terms.

However, Ahmed Ouyahia former chief of government and secretary general of the National Democratic Rally, the second main political force in the Algerian political landscape, says his party will not disclose its position until the president himself takes the decision.

Ahead of that, parties which belong to the "revolutionary family" could give Bouteflika a run for his money, says one representative of the Association of Abna Echouhadas (martyrs's children).

Laeed Zaghlami is an Algerian journalist

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