Language: Arabic
Currency: Algerian dinar (DZD)
Calling code:
213
Algeria is a country in north-west Africa. Algeria, as the middle of the Maghreb countries, is - since the separation of South Sudan from Sudan - by area the largest country on the African continent and the tenth largest country in the world. In terms of population, Algeria ranked eighth in Africa in 2017 with a good 41 million. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Mauritania, Morocco and the Western Sahara claimed by Morocco to the west, Mali and Niger to the south, and Libya and Tunisia to the east. The country is named after its capital, Algiers (French: Alger). Other major cities are Oran, Constantine, Annaba and Batna. The country became independent after the end of the Algerian War (1954-1962). A semi-presidential system of government came into force with the 1996 constitution.
Hoggar National Park is famous for its unusual mountains that create beautiful landscape.
Algiers is the largest city in Algeria that also serves as its capital. It is occasionally referred as Alger la Blanche or Algiers the White after the color of its buildings.
Chrea National Park is protected area of a temperate forest that you would not expect to see in this corner of the World.
Djémila or Cuicul as it was known back then, was constructed by the Romans during reign of emperor Nerva.
Djurdjura National Park is an expansive nature preserve that covers mountains in Kabylia region.
El Kala National Park protects sclerophyllous forests and wetlands on the beaches in El Tarf Province of Algeria.
Gouraya National Park situated in Béjaïa Province in the Northern Algeria. This natural reserve covers an area of 20.8 km² on the Mediterranean coast.
Lambaesis is a city that grew around Roman military camp of third legion (Legio III Augusta) between 123 and 129 AD.
Tassili n'Ajjer is a dry plateau that is famous for ancient rock art left by prehistoric man from the time when these lands were covered by grasslands.
Tiddis is an ancient Roman settlement situated near Bni Hamden village in the Constantine Province of Algeria.
Timgad was constructed in 100 AD Ex nihilo ("out of nothing" Latin) by the Emperor Trajan. It served as a defense against Berber tribes in the Aures Mountain.
Situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea Tipasa was originally found by the Phoenicians as a trade post in the North Africa. Roman Emperor Claudius turned it into a colony in the first century AD.
Originally, the area of today's Algeria was inhabited by Berber
tribes, in the east by Tuareg. Dated 12th Century B.C. The Phoenicians
established trading posts on the coast and founded 814 BC. the trading
city of Carthage in present-day Tunisia, which subsequently developed
into a major power in the western Mediterranean. Around 202 BC The
Berber tribes (Moors) under Massinissa united to form the kingdom of
Numidia and allied themselves with Rome against Carthage. The uprising
of Carthage against Massinissa in 149 BC. BC Rome provided the desired
pretext for the Third Punic War, during which Carthage was destroyed. 46
B.C. BC Rome subdued Numidia and united it with Carthage to form the
Roman province of Numidia-Mauretania. It was Rome's breadbasket until
the Vandals invaded in 429 AD. Vandal rule ended in 534 with the
conquest by troops of the East Roman Emperor Justinian I, making North
Africa a Byzantine province.
Christianity had been gaining
influence in North Africa since the 3rd century. Several dioceses had
come into existence in the big cities: St. Augustine, the most
influential church teacher of early Christianity, bishop of Hippo
Regius, today's Annaba, at the end of the 4th century.
Around the middle of the 7th century, the Arabs advanced into the
Maghreb. In 697 they conquered much of present-day Algeria. Most of the
population was Islamized. In the course of the 8th century there were
repeated revolts by the Berbers against the Arab conquerors: in 757 the
Berber kingdoms in the Atlas Mountains became independent from the
Caliphate, while the three emerging principalities of the Idrisids,
Aghlabids and Zirids came under its rule.
In the 11th century,
the Berber dynasty of the Almoravids was able to assert itself in what
is now Algeria; she ruled the country for almost 100 years until she was
replaced by the Almohads in 1147. This dynasty subsequently conquered
the Maghreb and southern Spain; however, in the second half of the 13th
century the empire disintegrated. East Algeria became part of a Tunisian
principality, and from 1269 the kingdom of the Abd-al-Wadids formed in
the west with the capital Tlemcen (today's Tilimsen).
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spaniards tried to gain a
foothold on the Algerian coast. As a result, the country submitted to
the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire in 1519 and became its vassal;
Algeria was the Eyâlet Cezayir within the Ottoman Empire and later
converted into a vilayet. It remained under Ottoman rule until 1830, but
was effectively independent from 1711. Up until the 19th century,
Algeria was able to successfully resist attempts by the Spanish, Dutch,
British and French to curb piracy.
The Barbaresque pirates
plundered Christian and non-Muslim ships in the Mediterranean. Often the
pirates also robbed the sailors and passengers in order to sell them
into slavery. Historian Robert Davis estimates that between the 16th and
19th centuries, between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans ended up in
slavery. Today's term "razzia" came about as a result of the slave raids
on the European coasts.
First plans for the conquest of Algeria by France were
drawn up under Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1830 the French invasion began.
Background were internal political problems of Charles X.; However, the
disrespectful behavior of the Algerian Dey (the famous blow with the fly
whisk), the piracy originating from the North African coasts and the aim
of spreading Christianity were cited as justification for the attack on
Algeria. The Foreign Legion - Légion étrangère - was also founded in
1831. The Algerians, influenced by Sufism, saw the French advance as an
attack by Christianity on the world of Islam. The young Abd el-Kader
became their leader and called for jihad. After massive setbacks, Thomas
Robert Bugeaud became commander of the French troops. Through extremely
cruel warfare, including against civilians, he defeated Abd el-Kader in
1847. Greater Kabylia was conquered by 1855. In the years that followed,
Algerian uprisings were put down, and by 1881 the French had gained
complete control of northern Algeria.
The Algerian population had
suffered massive casualties. Algeria's state and religious structures
were smashed, and common ownership of land was abolished. Numerous
settlers, Italians, Spaniards, French and Maltese flocked to the
settlement colony, while the local farmers were pushed into less fertile
areas. Around the turn of the century, the French also conquered the
Sahara regions of Algeria. After that, Algeria was divided into three
departments: Oran, Algiers, Constantine.
The population of
Algeria was divided by the Code de l'indigénat of 1875 into first and
second class citizens, French citizens (first only French, since 1889
also Italians, Maltese and Spaniards) and French subjects without
citizenship ("Sujets"). On August 26, 1881, the three departments were
declared part of France. After that they were no longer a colony, but
French territory with the same rights and obligations as all other
departments. The Sahara areas remained under military administration.
The non-French Europeans in Algeria quickly assimilated into French
culture. The almost 40,000 Algerian Jews held an intermediate position.
Anti-Semitism had been rampant among the settlers since the Dreyfus
affair; there were riots against Jews, and anti-Semitic newspapers were
published. In 1870, the Décret Crémieux made the Jewish Algerians French
citizens against their will.
In the period leading up to World
War II, Europeans acquired more and more farmland, partly through
purchase and partly through legal tricks. In 1936 they held 40% of the
fertile land. Still, the majority of European Algerians lived in the
cities. After 1870 the number of Muslim Algerians increased from two to
nine million, the number of Europeans to one million. The Muslim
Algerians became impoverished in 100 years of French rule, so that
malnutrition and famine were widespread. Almost all Muslims were
excluded from the education that France glorified as its civilizing
mission. Attempts at reform in French politics, whether by conservative
or socialist forces, failed because they were mostly nationalistic and
did not dare to question France's claim to rule over Algeria.
At
the beginning of the First World War, around 30,000 Algerians were
employed as workers in France. During the war, the French government
used the Algerian population as an economic and military reserve. A
total of 120,000 Algerians were brought to work in France during this
period. Another 173,000 served as volunteers or conscripts in the French
armed forces. By 1939, the number of Algerian migrant workers in France
had dropped to around 32,000. From the group of these migrants emerged
the Étoile Nord-Africaine, an Algerian political party aiming for
independence from France.
The independence movement gained
momentum, especially after the massacre of Sétif; tens of thousands of
Algerians were killed by the French army during riots in Sétif, Kherrata
and Guelma. In September 1947, in response to the strengthening of the
independence movement, the Algerian Statute granted French citizenship
to all Algerians, but this did not stop the struggle for independence
from France. The Algerian war that began in 1954 (until 1962) was waged
with extreme severity by both sides. The Arab Algerians carried out
terrorist attacks against the European soldiers and civilians in
Algeria. The French military used the methods of the so-called "French
Doctrine", which included summary executions, torture and the wiping out
of entire Algerian villages. This was initially successful militarily,
but after the systematic violations of human rights became known, it
weakened France internally and externally. Algeria gained independence
under the leadership of the National Liberation Front (FLN), which
fought and eliminated rival factions of the independence movement.
Independence was officially proclaimed on July 5 (national holiday
alongside Revolution Day on November 1), 1962. France later put the
total number of Muslims killed in Algeria at 350,000, and Algerian
sources at up to 1.5 million.
Algeria subsequently developed into a people's republic with the FLN as the socialist-oriented unitary party. Ferhat Abbas became the first president. After his dismissal, Muhammad Ahmed Ben Bella succeeded him in 1963, until Defense Minister Colonel Houari Boumedienne came to power in a military coup in June 1965. His government initially attempted to overcome Algeria's economic dependence on France through increased socialization policies and opening up to the Eastern bloc. From 1972 it pursued a course of non-alignment and established contacts with the West. After Boumedienne's death, Rabah Bitat took over the acting presidency in 1978 until Colonel Chadli Bendjedid was elected president in February 1979. Serious unrest broke out in mid-1988, leading to the FLN giving up its monopoly on power. The reasons for this included high unemployment and the housing shortage. Democratization was initiated and a new democratic constitution was created, which provided for the separation of party and state, parliamentary responsibility, pluralism, political freedoms and guarantees of human rights (constitution of November 19, entered into force three days later; amendments on November 3 November 1988, February 23, 1989 and November 26, 1996).
The economic decline led to spontaneous riots in the
capital Algiers in October 1988, which soon spread to other cities and
claimed hundreds of lives. In the 1991/1992 parliamentary elections, the
government feared a victory for the Islamist movement. After the looming
victory of the Islamic Salvation Front (Front islamique du salut, FIS),
the elections were abandoned; President Chadli Bendjedid resigned under
pressure from the military. This initially appointed Muhammad Boudiaf as
interim president, followed by Ali Kafi after his assassination and
finally General Liamine Zéroual in 1994. In March 1992, the dissolution
of the FIS was ordered, which then called for armed struggle. The civil
war waged between Islamists and the Algerian military claimed over
120,000 lives. In February 1995, 95 prisoners and four guards died in
the Serkadji prison massacre. The Algerian government employed “dirty
war” tactics.
The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
(French: Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat, GSPC) was
founded by former GIA leader Hassan Hattab in September 1998. It was
formed on the advice of Osama bin Laden, the former leader of the
international Islamist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, with the aim of
resuming the "holy war", jihad, against the Algerian state power in its
original form.
The most important domestic political goal of Abd
al-Aziz Bouteflika, who was elected President in April 1999 with the
support of the military, was to end the violent conflict through a
“policy of national reconciliation”. While the Algerian leadership had
previously put the number of victims of the civil war at around 30,000,
he admitted that in 1999 it was around 100,000.
In September
1999, the "Citizens' Reconciliation Law" (French: Loi de la Concorde
Civile) that he had presented was approved by the people in a
referendum. It provides an amnesty for terrorists who have laid down
their arms and have not committed serious crimes such as murder, rape or
bombings.
A little later, the "Islamic Salvation Army" (French:
Armée Islamique du Salut, AIS), the armed wing of the Islamic Salvation
Front (French: Front Islamique du Salut, FIS), which has been banned
since 1992, decided to lay down their arms. The "Armed Islamic Group"
(French: Groupe Islamique Armé, GIA) continued to exist, but according
to Der Spiegel, its remnants had slipped into a kind of banditry in
which religious motives were only used as a cover for criminality.
After a period of relative calm in 1999/2000, violent clashes
increased again. In April 2001, demonstrations in Kabylia, a mountainous
region in northern Algeria mainly inhabited by Berbers, were put down by
the state gendarmerie (around 60 dead).
In August 2002, Bouteflika pardoned the majority of
detained demonstrators to defuse Berber demands for more autonomy and
democratic participation. Bouteflika did not comply with demands for the
withdrawal of the gendarmerie from Kabylia.
In terms of economic
policy, Bouteflika tried to push through a privatization program. In
2003, however, the ministers responsible, Mourad Medelci and Abdelhamid
Temmar, had to resign under pressure from the influential UGTA trade
union confederation. In February 2003, for the second time since the
beginning of the decade, he organized a three-day general strike against
the government's privatization program. Over 90% of the workers took
part in the strike.
In the presidential elections on April 8,
2004 Bouteflika was re-elected as the first President for a second term
with 83% of the vote. His main competitor, former Prime Minister Ali
Benflis, spoke of fraud. However, election observers from the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) spoke of a
fair election.
After his re-election, Bouteflika continued his
"reconciliation policy" by presenting a "Charter for Peace and National
Reconciliation". It was approved in a referendum in September 2005. It
includes a general amnesty for state security forces and state-armed
militias as well as for armed groups. She denies any responsibility of
the security forces and militias for serious human rights violations.
Criticism of the security organs makes them a punishable offence. The
ordinance implementing it prevents a judicial investigation and
clarification of the fate of thousands of people who “disappeared”
during the civil war. Lawsuits against members of the security forces
must be dismissed by the courts. However, relatives of “disappeared”
persons can apply for compensation.
In terms of economic policy,
the attempts to move from a socialist planned economy to a more
market-oriented economic system continued. Mourad Medelci and Abdelhamid
Temmar, who are considered economic policy reformers and were forced to
resign in 2003, took over the finance and investment promotion
ministries respectively. They advocate the privatization of public
companies and the opening up of the oil and gas sector to private
investment.
At the beginning of April 2009, Bouteflika won the
presidential election in Algeria for the third time, according to
official figures, with 90.24% of the votes and a turnout of 74.5%. The
election was overshadowed by several violent incidents, and Bouteflika's
five opponents were given little opportunity to make their mark during
the 19-day election campaign. The main opposition parties, the
Rassemblement pour la culture et la démocratie (RCD) and the Front des
forces socialistes (FFS), did not even stand in the elections. The
opposition questioned the result.
In April 2007 there were
attacks on the official residence of the Algerian Prime Minister and a
police station in Algiers. In December there was an attack on the UNHCR
office in Algiers.
On February 23, 2011, the state of emergency
that had existed for 19 years was lifted. This was a demand from the
opposition. In 1992, the state of emergency was put into effect to
combat armed Islamists.
On January 16, 2012, Islamists attacked a
site of the oil company BP and apparently took numerous foreigners
hostage. The Algerian news agency APS reported that two people were
killed in the attack. One of the attackers said his group came from
neighboring Mali, where France has been conducting a military operation
against Islamists since the end of last week. According to their own
statements, the group of attackers captured 41 Western foreigners,
including 7 Americans.
In the election on April 17, 2014,
Bouteflika was confirmed in office for the fourth time, despite being
weakened by a stroke; According to the Interior Ministry, 81.5% of the
votes went to the incumbent and 12.18% to Ali Benflis. In spring 2019 it
was announced that Bouteflika, who was seriously ill, would stand for a
fifth term. After mass protests, however, he was forced to resign under
pressure from the military. Bouteflika died in September 2021 at the age
of 84. President Tebboune dissolved parliament in February after mass
protests. With the early parliamentary elections in June, the Algerian
regime is once again trying to legitimize itself - as it did in the
presidential elections of 2019. The elections were also boycotted en
masse back then. According to official figures, just under 24 percent of
those entitled to vote had cast their votes.
entry requirements
Europeans need a visa to enter
the country, which must be applied for in advance at one of the Algerian
embassies or consulates. The processing time is two weeks. Apart from
the usual documents, one also requires “a certificate of accommodation
legalized by the chairman of the municipal assembly of the place of
residence of the inviting person (business travelers instead invite the
Algerian business partner); Hotel booking confirmation; air
ticket/travel ticket for round trip travel; certificate of employment;
Proof of foreign health insurance; transfer receipt. Responsible in
Germany are:
For residents of Berlin, Hamburg,
Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt: Consular Department of the Embassy, Görschstraße 45-46,
13187 Berlin-Pankow. Phone: +49 30-43 737-149. All applicants must
provide proof of their home address. Processing time at least 14 days.
Open: application Mon., Wed. 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m., collection Fri.
Consulate General, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 23, 60325 Frankfurt. Phone:
+49 69 7060 950, email: visa@konsulat-algerien.de. Personal appointment
(or use of an approved agency) mandatory with online appointment
booking. Price: 80 € + 20 € administration fees (German) up to 90 days.
In Austria, the visa can be obtained from the Algerian embassy in Vienna
and costs €35. The processing time is 7 working days. Algerian Embassy
Vienna. Fee for Austrians €80 + €25 writing fee. (Status: Sep 2022)
For Switzerland and Liechtenstein:
The Section consulaire de
l'Ambassade (Willadingweg 74, 3006 Berne) is only responsible for
residents of the cantons of Berne, Neuchâtel and Friborg. Price: up to
90 days: 70 sfr.
Consulate General d'Algérie, 308Bis, Route de
Lausanne, 1293 Bellevue, Genève. Email:
consulat-algerie@consulat-algerie.ch. Still accepting applications by
mail. Open: Tue.-Sat. 9.30-12.30. Price: up to 90 days: 90 sfr + writing
fee.l
Customs
2 liters of wine or 1 liter of liquor may be
imported duty-free. Tobacco 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g
tobacco. In addition, gifts up to 1000 DA and personal items.
The
import of binoculars is strictly forbidden. You are also not allowed to
bring used motorbikes or bicycles. Baggage is x-rayed at customs.
The
export of local currency is limited to 10000 DA.
Airplane
There are four major airports in Algeria: Algiers (IATA: ALG), Annaba
(IATA: AAE), Oran (IATA: ORN), 4 Constantine wikipediacommons (IATA:
CZL), with all international airlines flying exclusively to Algiers or
Oran and the rest Cities act more as regional airports with some
connections to France.
From Germany you can get there with Air
Algerie or with Lufthansa (both from Frankfurt am Main). The flight time
from Germany is usually 2-3 hours.
The national airline Air
Algérie flies to many destinations in Europe. There are good connections
to France in particular, but also to other African countries and the
Middle East. More information about Algiers Airport and the airlines can
be found on the official website Aéroport d'Alger.
Rail
The
only way to travel from abroad by train is from Tunisia. There are no
rail connections from the other neighboring countries.
bus
car/motorcycle/bicycle
The border crossing from/to Morocco has been
closed since 1990, as has the border to Mali.
The best way to get
to Algeria by car is to cross the Tunisian border. You should drive over
the northernmost border at the Tabarka border crossing, the southern
border crossings can only be passed by foreigners with a guide. Details
of the crossings at this border in the Tunisia country article.
A
journey via the other neighboring states of Mauritania, Niger or Libya
is time-consuming but can be a real adventure. It should be noted that
the extreme temperature fluctuations pose a serious risk to the engine.
You also run the risk of encountering meter-high sand dunes on the road,
which often take a few days to disappear again. This trip should only be
ventured with a 4x4 and a local guide.
Ship
The prices of a
ferry from France or Spain to Algeria are often many times more
expensive than a flight. If you don't have a car to transport, you
should switch to the plane if possible. Most connections are offered by
Algerie Ferries, from Barcelona, Alicante, |Marseille or Genoa. Most
ferries go to Oran and Algiers, there are also trips to Skikda.
A
ferry goes from Almeria in Spain to Ghazaouet (الغزوات).
By train
The state railway company is the SNTF. The
larger stations are handicapped accessible. Since 2018, modern express
trains have served the route from Algiers to Oran three times a day.
In the street
Gasoline is comparatively cheap. The driving style
takes a lot of getting used to. Algerians tend to see prohibition signs
and speed limits as signposts. It is not for nothing that Algeria has
one of the highest road accident rates in the world. On country roads,
despite oncoming traffic, people overtake at very short distances, so
country roads should be avoided if possible.
There are only
country roads to the south. These are in poor condition and some of them
can only be driven on with a four-wheel drive car. Certain areas may
only be visited by foreigners accompanied by a police escort.
The
Algerian government has invested in the road network in recent years;
many of the dilapidated and unsafe country roads have been renewed or
replaced by the new east-west motorway.
The Autoroute Est-Ouest
is the only real motorway (A1). It runs from Annaba to Oran, crosses all
major cities in the north including Algiers and has a length of 1200km.
The highway is currently under construction. At the end of 2016, the
sections from El Bettim (البطيم) on the Moroccan border to around Sétif
were completed. In the east it ends at Dréan (الذرعان), an expansion to
Tunisia has been planned for a long time, but will not be finished in
2018.
Construction of the 1020km inland Autoroute des Hauts
Plateaux (A2) only started in 2014. After completion in 2025, it should
lead from Tébessa (تبسة) via Khenchela, Batna, M'Sila, Boughezoul,
Tiaret, Saïda to Al Aricha (العريشة).
By bus
Basically, every
major town has a bus station. In smaller towns, however, the buses only
stop at certain points; in the smaller towns that do not have a real bus
station, you buy the ticket from the driver. Bus travel in Algeria is
very cheap at around one euro per 100 km. All buses are usually equipped
with air conditioning and comfortable seats, and they're also a great
way to mingle with locals. For longer journeys of more than 400km,
flying Air Algérie is a better alternative, mainly because the prices
for domestic flights are very cheap.
By plane
From Algiers
there are flights to almost all major cities in Algeria. Flying is
especially worthwhile for longer distances. The only Algerian airline is
Air Algérie, ticket prices range from €50-100 and vary depending on the
length of the route. Date and time are not criteria, the prices are
fixed prices and can be replaced at full price and rebooked without a
fee. If you buy the tickets in cash at the airport counter, they are
slightly cheaper than online.
Algiers Airport is the only modern
airport, another for international arrivals is in Oran. The other
airports are more similar in size to airfields and have sparse
infrastructure and little comfort, but are bearable if you don't have to
spend hours there.
taxis
Taxis are common in cities or when
going to places that are difficult to reach by bus. A distinction must
be made between normal taxis and shared taxis. The latter take up to 4
people who share the price and wait until the vehicle is full. If you
don't want to share the taxi, you have to pay the full price. If you
have little knowledge of French, it is advisable to only get on with
younger drivers, as they usually also speak some English. Business cards
of the hotel or other exact information are an advantage here.
The official languages are Arabic and Berber. The
variety of Arabic spoken in Algeria is very different from the Arabic
spoken in other countries, such as Egypt or Syria. Many French words
were incorporated into the language through the colonization of France.
It is similar to the variant spoken in Morocco and Tunisia.
Even
people who have learned Standard Arabic will find it very difficult to
understand the Algerian dialect apart from a few phrases. However, most
Algerians are also fluent in Standard Arabic. Egyptian Arabic is also
understood and spoken by many people due to the many Egyptian films that
are broadcast in Algeria.
French is still very present in
everyday life as a language in business, administration and education
even after independence from France. It is well spoken by many
Algerians. Many road signs and instructions are only available in Arabic
and French.
Knowledge of English is mainly found among younger
people. Although the level is not the same as in Germany or in
Scandinavian countries, it is sufficient for everyday conversations.
People with knowledge of German can also be found occasionally,
since German is the most frequently chosen foreign language in schools.
Even in every village there are a handful of people who used to live in
Germany.
The Arabic greeting As-salamu alaykum is commonly used
to greet and say goodbye. Learning a few words in the dialect (Darija)
can be helpful. Even if these are mispronounced, one is usually rewarded
with additional appreciation.
A few common words :
Kirak- How
are you?
Mleh - Good
Shukran - Thank you
Naam - yes
Laa - No
The official currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD) also
Dinar Algerienne (DA). 1 € corresponds to a value of 160 DA (as of March
2021). Only the denominations of 5, 20, 50 DA frequently circulate as
coins, there are others as well. Banknotes are mainly in the
denominations of 200, 500, 1000, banknotes of 100 or 2000 hardly ever
circulate.
The best way to change euros and dollars is at the
airport or in banks. Although unlicensed currency exchange is officially
banned, there is a black/grey market in foreign exchange. Copy shops and
other shopkeepers often trade at a parallel rate that is about 25%
better than the official rate. Taxi drivers also usually know people who
swap. If you are willing to take that risk, you should not accept
old-looking or torn bills.
The import and export of local
currency is forbidden, but is not strictly controlled. ATMs are
available near major hotels, as well as in banks and post offices, from
which you can withdraw Algerian dinars at the current exchange rate
using major credit cards or Maestro cards; if a 6-digit PIN is required,
enter two zeros before the 4-digit PIN.
In the larger cities you
will find supermarkets that offer all common products (no alcohol!!!),
in smaller cities and towns there is always a smaller grocer. During the
summer most shops are usually closed from 12pm - 4pm due to the heat.
In all souks and markets you can and should even bargain, a good
approach is to start at half the price. The quality of the goods should
be checked thoroughly.
Although Algeria is the third most
expensive country in Africa, food, drink and housing are still extremely
cheap compared to European standards. The biggest cost factor is the
accommodation, because if you don't want to do without comfort, you have
to take the very expensive hotels like Hilton, Sheraton from 150 €
(average Algerian monthly salary) per night. Cheaper places to stay are
cheaper hotels or hostels, but most are less comfortable and don't offer
extras like WiFi or breakfast. Otherwise, everything from groceries to
petrol and everything that concerns daily use is dirt cheap, but it is
recommended that you pay attention to the prices despite the apparently
low costs and do not throw the money around uncontrollably, otherwise
you will end up giving the same from your own experience much or even
more than when traveling within Europe.
In Algeria you can get full for just a few dinars and
enjoy a delicious meal, smaller restaurants can be found everywhere and
you can get a 3-course meal for around 500 DA. The hygienic standard is
good and it is checked regularly. Traditionally, soup is always served
as a starter.
In summer, when it is hot, people generally eat
light food such as melons or dates, especially at lunchtime you should
not eat too much, otherwise the food will be like a stone in your
stomach.
Well-known upper class hotels such as Hilton and
Sheraton can be found in Algiers and Oran, but they are not particularly
cheap. Smaller hotels are more affordable but often not recommended due
to a lack of cleanliness and extras, it is better not to take the first
hotel you find right away, but to compare something and look for test
reports (there is a lot available on the French-speaking Internet).
Youth hostels from well-known umbrella organizations such as Hostelling
International are usually cheap and okay.
Hotels
Hotel El
Djazair. Good budget hotel in the heart of Algiers with WIFI, breakfast
and LCD TV. The hotel also has a great garden and its own swimming pool.
Price: from around 200 euros.
Seybouse Ex Plaza, Boulevard du 1er
Novembre 54 Annaba. Tel.: +213 38 86 31 75. Feature: ★★★★★. Price: from
€40.
Petty crime is prevalent in the larger cities such as
Algiers, Constantine and Oran. Robberies and theft are a serious
problem. It is forbidden to take photos of military facilities (and
those in uniform) as well as buildings that are important for traffic.
Although the civil war is long over, travel to Algeria cannot be
classified as safe. Since tourism in Algeria is not as lively as in
Morocco or Tunisia, there is no need to be afraid of rip-offs and
scammers, but Western tourists are repeatedly kidnapped by Islamist
groups. Against this background, journeys to the Sahara, Kabylia or the
respective border areas are not safe. “Many areas allow foreigners to
enter only when accompanied by a police escort. According to the
Algerian security regulations in force, foreign employees of foreign
companies are obliged to undertake business and tourist trips or stays
outside the administrative district (Wilaya) of Algiers by means of a
police escort (escort) and to report this to the Delegate for Security
(délégué de sécurité) at least 48 hours in advance to the authority
responsible for the registered office (Wali des Wilaya). In urgent cases
that must be credibly demonstrated, exceptions to the 48-hour rule are
possible.”
The terrorist attacks of 2006 and the attempted coup
in Algiers in 2011 affected state institutions, but the Algerian police
and military have the situation very well under control and there is no
need to be particularly afraid of new attacks or kidnappings.
Homosexuality is a criminal offense.
You will search in vain for facilities for the
disabled.
Hospitals can be found in every city with more than 50,000
inhabitants, but the quality often leaves something to be desired,
private hospitals (Clinique Privée) have European standards and are also
relatively cheap.
When traveling to Algeria, there are generally no
major health risks to be feared, but there are a few small things to
consider
Drinking water should be boiled if possible. If this is not
possible, it is better not to drink the water, water bottles are too
cheap to buy everywhere.
Despite the heat during the day, when
traveling to the Sahara you should bring warm clothing with you as the
temperatures drop to freezing point overnight.
Algeria is an Islamic state. One should show respect
for religion and tradition, although it is difficult to put one's foot
in it and the majority of the younger generation is very open-minded,
simple etiquette should be followed. In general, people are more
tolerant in larger cities than in more rural areas.
One of the
biggest taboos is alcohol. Islam forbids it and most people, religious
or not, have a strong dislike for any alcoholic product. However,
alcohol is legal and some Algerians drink it, but only discreetly and
not in public.
Women do not need to wear a headscarf or observe
explicit dress codes. Especially in the capital and in the other big
cities, the majority of young women are out and about without a
headscarf. This basically applies to the more rural areas as well,
except that there it can happen that you get hit on more often.
Especially if you look typically European. But women shouldn't show too
much skin; whether an outfit is appropriate or not always depends on the
situation, but in general, jeans and a t-shirt are almost always okay.
Dress more moderately when visiting families or mosques, a headscarf is
not a must, but not too tight-fitting and attractive clothing. Men do
not need to observe any dress code and can show themselves as usual
everywhere.
When a woman is out with a man, it often happens that
the man is addressed first and asked on behalf of the woman, especially
in restaurants. This should not be understood primarily as
discrimination or lower esteem towards women, but shows respect. If you
don't want that, then the woman should take the initiative.
Elderly people and women always have a special status that should be
respected. E.g. in buses, the space should always be made available for
older people and/or women. If you are talking to a woman who is dressed
in Islamic attire, you should always limit the discussion to what is
necessary, as a precaution, unless the woman takes the initiative.
Furthermore, it is considered very impolite to eat or drink in
public during Ramadan, nothing is eaten from sunrise to sunset; if you
want something to eat you should move it to the hotel room if possible.
Most restaurants are closed for Lent. Don't be surprised if everyone
seems a little more provoked than usual during the day.
Among
acquaintances, relatives and friends, two kisses on both cheeks are
customary to greet and say goodbye.
According to the 1996 constitution, Algeria is a
semi-presidential republic with a head of state elected by the people
every five years. He appoints and dismisses the prime minister
responsible only to him as chairman of the executive branch.
The
Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly (Assemblée
Populaire Nationale) and the Council of the Nation (Conseil de la
Nation/Majlis al-'Umma). The 462 members of the People's Assembly are
elected every five years. In the Council of the Nation, 96 members are
fully elected every six years and half every three years by local
councils, and the remaining 48 members are appointed by the head of
state. All Algerians have the right to vote from the age of 18.
On May 10, 2012, the first parliamentary elections after the Arab Spring
were held in Algeria. Elections were held again in 2017. The ruling
National Liberation Front (FLN) achieved the highest share of the vote
with 26% and won 161 seats in parliament. The National Democratic Rally
(RND) won 100 seats.
On April 2, 2019, President Abd al-Aziz
Bouteflika, who had been in power for 20 years, resigned after violent
popular protests against his renewed candidacy for the 2019 presidential
election. The election was postponed several times and took place on
December 12th. Abdelmadjid Tebboune won it on the first ballot. The army
lined up behind Tebboune after the result was announced. The
Constitutional Court declared the election legal on December 16.
On February 19, 2021, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the
dissolution of the National Assembly and early elections.
women's
suffrage
The history of women's suffrage in North Africa and the
Middle East in Algeria dates back to colonial times: in 1944, Christian
and Jewish women with French citizenship (Européennes) living in
French-owned Algeria were granted the right to vote; Muslims were
excluded. In July 1958, Charles de Gaulle enacted the loi-cadre
Defferre, which also gave Muslims the right to vote, for Algeria. With
the proclamation of independence on July 5, 1962, this right was
confirmed. Active and passive women's suffrage for the new state of
Algeria was thus established on July 5, 1962.