Algeria

Algeria, 1962 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

Algeria gained independence in 1962 after the Algerian War, which broke out in 1954. It descended into a bloody civil war from 1992 to 2002. Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and its capital and largest city is Algiers.

Seat of power: Algiers

Rulers

Ferhat Abbas

President of Algeria, 1962–1963

From 25 September 1962 to 15 September 1963 he was president of the constitutional assembly, an institution that Ben Bella rapidly sidelined. He resigned in protest at the FLN's decision to write the constitution outside of the constituent assembly's authority.

Portrait of Ferhat Abbas: Anefo, CC0, file

Ahmad ibn Billah

President of Algeria, 1963–1965

He pursued Arab socialist and pan-Arabist policies and nationalized several industries. He faced border clashes in the Sand War with Morocco in 1963 and a failed rebellion by the Socialist Forces Front in 1963 to 1964.

Portrait of Ahmad ibn Billah: aziz3d, Public domain, file

Houari Boumédiène

President of Algeria, 1965–1978

In June 1965 he overthrew President Ben Bella in a bloodless coup and abolished Algeria's parliament and constitution. In 1971 he nationalized the Algerian oil industry, increasing government revenue tremendously.

Portrait of Houari Boumédiène: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Rabah Bitat

President of Algeria, 1978–1979

He served as interim President of Algeria from 1978 to 1979, after Houari Boumédiène's death.

Portrait of Rabah Bitat: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Chadli Bendjedid

President of Algeria, 1979–1992

In office, Bendjedid reduced the state's role in the economy and eased government surveillance of citizens. In October 1988, youth marches protesting the regime's austerity policies evolved into massive rioting, known as the 1988 October Riots, which spread to Oran, Annaba and other cities. He resigned from the presidency in January 1992 following a disputed election and military coup, leading to the Algerian Civil War.

Portrait of Chadli Bendjedid: Présidence, Public domain, file

Ali Kafi

President of Algeria, 1992–1994

He was chairman of the High Council of State, a military-backed collective presidency, from 2 July 1992 to 31 January 1994.

Portrait of Ali Kafi: Algeria Press Service, CC BY 3.0, file

Mohamed Boudiaf

President of Algeria, 1992–1992

He returned in 1992 to accept the position of Chairman of the High Council of State, but he was assassinated four months later.

Portrait of Mohamed Boudiaf: Algeria Press Service, CC BY 3.0, file

Abdelmalek Benhabyles

President of Algeria, 1992–1992

He was chairman of the Constitutional Council from 12 April 1989 until 20 March 1995, and so acting head of state when the military ousted Chadli Bendjedid.

Portrait of Abdelmalek Benhabyles: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Liamine Zéroual

President of Algeria, 1995–1999

In November 1995 he was elected President. He was reputed to be willing to talk, supporting a partly negotiated solution to the Algerian Civil War.

Portrait of Liamine Zéroual: Algeria Press Service, CC BY 3.0, file

Abd al-Aziz Boutafliqa

President of Algeria, 1999–2019

He presided over the end of the Algerian Civil War in 2002 and ended emergency rule in February 2011. He resigned on 2 April 2019 amid months of mass protests opposing his candidacy for a fifth term.

Portrait of Abd al-Aziz Boutafliqa: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, file

Abdelmadjid Tebboune

President of Algeria, 2019 to today

He was elected president on 12 December 2019 and assumed office on 19 December. He was re-elected for a second term in 2024.

Portrait of Abdelmadjid Tebboune: Vlada Republike Slovenije from Ljubljana, Slovenia, CC BY 4.0, file

Abd al-Qadir ibn Saleh

President of Algeria, 2019–2019

He became acting Head of State of Algeria on 9 April 2019, seven days after the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He served as Acting Head of State of Algeria until Abdelmadjid Tebboune took office after winning the presidential election in December 2019.

Portrait of Abd al-Qadir ibn Saleh: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, CC BY 4.0, file

Culture

Modern Standard Arabic and Standard Amazigh are the official languages.
Of all the traditional Algerian dishes, the most famous one is couscous, recognised as a national dish.
Football is the most popular sport in the country, and the national team is known as the Desert Foxes.
The only natural World Heritage Site in Algeria is the Tassili n'Ajjer, a mountain range.

Picture

The Maqam Echahid is a concrete monument commemorating the Algerian War, opened on 5 July 1982, the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence.

Image: Boumediene15, CC BY-SA 3.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.