Happy Independence Day Algeria

“A friend is someone who shares your happiness and your pains” - Algerian Proverb

(Algeria flag (1962-Present))

Algeria is located in northern Africa.

(Map of where Algeria is located)

Its capital is Algiers. Algiers is also its largest city. The official languages are Arabic and Berber. The country is 919,595 square miles. Algeria is 99% Asian and 1% European. 99% of Algeria practice Islam and 1% practice Christianity. The total population is 40,400,000. The climate is hot and dry. Algeria is a unitary semi presidential people’s republic.

(Algiers, capital of Algeria)

Algerian cuisine consists of couscous, chorba, Rechta, Chakhchoukha, Berkoukes, Shakshouka, Mthewem, Chtitha, Mderbel, and Dolma.

(Algerian cuisine)

The major style of music is Chaâbi.

(Algerians performing Chaâbi music)

Algeria’s most popular sport is soccer.

(Algeria's soccer team)

Algeria was 1st inhabited in 200,000 BC. The Berbers were the 1st inhabitants of Algeria.

(Ancient Algerian ruins)

The industry of metal tool making started in 30,000 BC. In 11,000 BC animals were starting to be domesticated in the region. In 600 BC Phoenicians came to the area.

(Phoenician men)

In the 4th century BC Berbers formed the single largest element of the Carthaginian army. In 241 BC Berber soldiers rebelled after being unpaid following the defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War. They succeeded in obtaining control of much of Carthage's North African territory. In 146 BC the city of Carthage was destroyed.

(A drawing of the destruction of Carthage)

In the 2nd century BC several large but loosely administered Berber kingdoms had emerged. Massinissa took control of the Berber kingdoms in the 2nd century BC. After Masinissa's death in 148 BC the Berber kingdoms were divided and reunited several times.

(A statue of Masinissa)

In 24 AD the Roman empire took control of the area. The Germanic Vandals of Geiseric moved into North Africa in 429. The Arabs conquered Algeria in the mid 7th century. Several Amazigh dynasties emerged during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century Spain constructed fortified outposts on the Algerian coast. In 1505 Spain took control of few coastal towns. In 1516 the region was partially ruled by Ottomans. In 1587 the area was governed by officers who served terms with no fixed limits. In 1659 the Agha seized power. In 1740 a locust plague struck the region.

(A drawing of the locust plague)

Slavery started in the region in 1785. In 1801 Piracy on American vessels in the Mediterranean resulted in the United States initiating the First Barbary War.

(A painting of the 1st Barbary War)

In 1815 the Second Barbary War started. In 1830 the French took control of Algeria.

(A painting of the French colonizing Algeria)

In 1848 France administered the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria. In 1954 the Algerian war began. The Front de Libération Nationale used hit and run attacks in Algeria and France as part of its war. The war led to the death of hundreds of thousands of Algerians.

(French soldiers standing over dead Algerian troops)

In 1962 the war ended. On July 3rd, 1962 Algeria gained its independence.

(Algerian flag (1962-Present))

A massacre of the French within the country began the same year. Ahmed Ben Bella became president of Algeria.

(Ahmed Ben Bella)

In 1963 the Sand War began. In 1965 Bella was overthrown by Houari Boumediene.

(Houari Boumediene)

Algeria pursued a programme of industrialisation within a state controlled socialist economy. Boumediene's successor, Chadli Bendjedid promoted a policy of Arabisation in Algerian society and public life. The Algerian economy became increasingly dependent on oil, leading to hardship when the price collapsed during the 1980s oil glut. In 1992 a civil insurgency between the Armed Islamic Group, and the national armed forces began. At several points in the conflict, the situation in Algeria became a point of international concern, most notably during the crisis surrounding Air France Flight 8969, a hijacking perpetrated by the Armed Islamic Group.

(Air France Flight 8969 hijacking)

In 1999 Abdelaziz Bouteflika became president. He worked to restore political stability to the country and announced a “Civil Concord” initiative. In 2008 the Algerian Constitution was amended following a vote in Parliament, removing the two-term limit on Presidential incumbents. In 2010 there was multiple protests causing a state of emergency.

(2010 protests)

In 2011 Bouteflika promised further constitutional and political reform.

(Abdelaziz Bouteflika)

Today marks the 55th anniversary of Algeria’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Algeria.

Videos of Algeria Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U890TGwnIU  “Algeria wins independence over after French and Algerian War - newsreel archival stock footage”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp8mjgjZOgc  “Algerian Independance Day”