My Country Assignment: Algeria

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My Country Assignment: Algeria Algeria, or the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria as it is officially known, became independent from French rule on 5 July 1962 after France recognized their independence two days earlier. This independence was achieved after the eight year Algerian War for Independence by the National Liberation Front (FLN). Prior to the war, the population was predominantly Berber, people who were indigenous to North Africa, and the Pieds-Noirs, people who had come to Algeria during the period of French rule. Once independence was achieved, the Pieds-Noir fled the country in a mass exodus to France as the FLN began attacking them. Over 1 million people emigrated from Algeria to France at this time to escape persecution. The FLN then became the sole ruling political organization of Algeria in accordance with the 1976 constitution. Mass unrest ensued in the 1980s as this one party system began to be challenged by the younger generation; and by 1988, the one-party-rule was ended. In 1991, the military seized power after the Islamic Salvation Front won elections and held power with military leaders until 27 April 1999 when the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was selected by the Army. Most of the guerilla groups dissipated or accepted the amnesty offered by the state though some still exist today. Recently, as a result of the Arab Spring, Algeria officially lifted the State of Emergency that allowed the military to seize power 19 years prior because of the mass protests taking place throughout the country. The first thing to note about Algeria is its geographic size; it is the largest country in Africa, encompassing approximately 927,000 square miles of land, as the 10th largest country worldwide; and hosts a population of nearly 37 million people. Its capital city, Algiers is also the country’s largest city. This city’s population
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