U.S. and EU Can No Longer Ignore Algerian Crisis

Belgrade/Brussels  |   9 Jul 2001

The Algerian government’s ban on demonstrations, put into effect again last week when thousands of people were blocked from entering Algiers, is symptomatic of the regime’s intolerance of any demands for economic reform or political liberalisation. 

In a new report released today “The Civil Concord: A Peace Initiative Wasted”, the International Crisis Group analyses the collapse of the political reform process begun by President Bouteflika in April 1999. The Civil Concord law, which was initially supported by the leaders of the former Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and approved by referendum in September 1999, created a genuine dynamic for peace. But this was shattered just a few months later when a senior ex-FIS leader was assassinated and two others were put under house arrest. A ban was placed on the Wafa party, the political heir to the FIS, without legal justification in November 2000. 

ICG’s president Gareth Evans said: “The international community must now abandon the illusion that Algeria’s problems are solely an Islamic-military conflict. Military and police repression, especially in Kabylia, is fuelling unrest. Unemployment, overcrowding and rigid political control are raising discontent in other areas. Don’t forget that nearly a million people demonstrated in Algiers last month – leading to the current ban.”

The U.S. and EU in particular cannot continue to accept that repression is a reasonable response to the desire for change now being clearly expressed by the population. When President Bouteflika visits Washington on 12 and 13 July 2001, he should be strongly encouraged to liberalise political activity and improve respect for human rights, and in particular legalise the Wafa party. 

EU leaders must put into action the statement they made in Göteborg on 15 June that they “cannot remain indifferent to the Algerian tragedy.” Algeria is currently negotiating an association agreement with the EU, and this is a rare opportunity to insist on greater economic transparency and political accountability. EU members could also give support to Algeria’s democratic opposition, help restart the Sant’Egidio dialogue interrupted in 1995, and bring Algeria’s case to the UN Commission on Human Rights.

“Putting pressure on the regime is not easy,” said Mr Evans. “Comfortably supported by oil industry income, the elite is almost impervious to economic or political persuasion. But Algeria is a social and economic time bomb, capable of generating huge waves of migration and regional instability. It can no longer be ignored.”