Algeria

Country: Algeria

60 years since the beginning of the Algerian war

National Fronts?

The Algerian War began 60 years ago. Some eight years later, a new Arab nation came about – and a million Algerians of French origin fled to France. The recent successes of the extreme-right Front National have made these "pieds-noirs" a political factor again, as the fronts of the Algerian War retain contemporary relevance. By Jakob KraisMore

Literature and Collective Trauma in Algeria: Moving Beyond the Examination of History Interview with Benjamin Stora: The Bitter Legacy of Past Franco-Algerian Relations Literature and Collective Trauma in Algeria: Moving Beyond the Examination of History

Markers indicating the location of landmines (photo: imago)

Landmine victims in Algeria

Open wounds

Landmines left over from the colonial era are still claiming victims in Algeria. For 50 years now, those affected have been fighting for recognition as war invalids, which France still denies them. By Susanne KaiserMore

Website: "Handicap International"Literature and collective trauma in Algeria: Moving beyond the examination of history The Franco-Algerian artist Dalila Dalléas Bouzar: Pulling away the veil from memory Website: "Human Rights Watch"

A boy holding the flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the Laayoune refugee camp near Tindouf, Algeria (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Western Sahara conflict

The curse of resources

In times of economic crisis and rising unemployment in North Africa, Western Sahara's natural resources have become fiercely contested treasures. The new balance of power resulting from recent political developments in the region could lead to a renegotiation of the conflict. By Susanne KaiserMore

Photo gallery: The conflict in Western Sahara The status of Western Sahara: A forgotten conflict The crisis in Western Sahara: The forgotten refugees of Tindouf

Gilles Kepel (photo: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images)

Interview with the French Islam expert Gilles Kepel

Passion and suffering

For three decades now, the renowned French sociologist and political scientist Gilles Kepel has been monitoring the development of Muslim societies. He sees a close connection between the developments in the French suburbs and the events in the Arab world. Beat Stauffer spoke to him in ParisMore

France's burka ban: Excluding the wrong people Human rights court upholds burka ban in France: An unfortunate ruling Islamophobia and Racism in France: Shocking Indifference Interview with Benjamin Stora: The history of relations between Jews and Muslims

Memorial march in Tizi Ouzou marking the crushing of a peaceful protest in the Kabylie region in 1980 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Ethnic conflict in Algeria

A struggle for power and recognition

Algeria's non-Arab minorities are up in arms. The ethnic conflict between Arabs and Berbers is weakening the already fragile stability of the Maghreb state. By Susanne KaiserMore

Algeria and the Arab Spring: Opting for the Status Quo Rather than Experimentation Interview with the Algerian Singer Houria Aïchi: Ambassador of Chaouia Culture Photo gallery: The Conflict in Western Sahara – The Eternal Wait

Members of the Algerian national soccer team (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

FIFA World Cup 2014: Algeria

"My money's on Algeria and Russia"

The Algerian national squad are aiming to realise a dream at the World Cup in Brazil: to finally make it through to the second round. Algerian sports commentator Hafiz Deraji believes this is eminently possible and that Algeria and Russia will survive the group stage. He spoke to Adil ChroatMore

The French Football Star Samir Nasri: Anything but Pussy-Footed The Integrative Power of Football: Those Who Score, Get to Pray to Allah Franck Bilal Ribéry: ''Always Believe in God''Football War between Algeria and Egypt: Game of Hate

Interview with the philosopher Hélène Cixous

"I don't regret attending the school that is Algeria"

The renowned philosopher and leading French feminist theoretician Hélène Cixous talks about her latest literary work, her lifelong friendship with the "father of deconstruction", Jacques Derrida, and her difficult relationship with Algeria. She is interviewed by Claudia KramatschekMore

Interview with Yasmina Khadra: "The Algerian regime is pulling all the strings"Interview with Benjamin Stora: The Bitter Legacy of Past Franco-Algerian Relations France and the 50th Anniversary of Algeria's Independence: A Pact against Memory

A Muslim and a Jew stand side by side (photo: Getty Images)

Interview with Benjamin Stora

The history of relations between Jews and Muslims

The French-language book "Histoires des relations entre juifs et musulmans, des origines à nos jours" (The history of relations between Jews and Muslims, from their origins to the present day) is encyclopaedic in both its scope and length. Some 120 top specialists worked under the direction of Abdelwahab Meddeb and Benjamin Stora to rebuild more than 13 centuries of coexistence between Jews and Muslims. Nathalie Galesne spoke to Benjamin Stora about the bookMore

Interview with M'Hammad Bennaboud: The Muslims and Jews of Tétouan Jews in Tunisia: A Shrinking, Vulnerable Community Interreligious Dialogue in Morocco: Peaceful Co-existence between Divine Religions Photo gallery: Traces of Jewish Life in Iraq

Interview with Yasmina Khadra

"The Algerian regime is pulling all the strings"

The renowned Algerian writer, Mohammed Moulessehoul, who goes by his pen name Yasmina Khadra, wanted to stand as an independent candidate for the presidency of Algeria. He funded his own campaign and criss-crossed the country seeking nomination. Unfortunately, he only managed to win the support of 43,000 people, 17,000 short of the minimum number needed to be able to contest the election. Regina Keil-Sagawe spoke to the author about his campaign and about the situation in AlgeriaMore

Presidential election in Algeria: Out with the old, in with the old Algeria and the Arab Spring: Opting for the Status Quo Rather than Experimentation Interview with the Algerian Novelist Yasmina Khadra: "There Is a Life after Defeat"

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (right) inspecting a military guard in Algiers (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Presidential election in Algeria

Out with the old, in with the old

On 17 April, Algeria goes to the polls to elect a new president. However, it seems as if the new president will be the old one: Abdelaziz Bouteflika. But even though the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion, political resistance is forming. By Kersten KnippMore

Algerian Paralysis: Bouteflika's Uncertain Future Interview with Werner Ruf: "Algeria is a Thoroughly Corrupt Country"Literature and Collective Trauma in Algeria: Moving Beyond the Examination of History

Boualem Sansal (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Boualem Sansal's essay on Islamisation

Fighting Islamists with conspiracy theories

Bitter disappointment at the outcome of the Arab Spring oozes from every page of "Allahs Narren. Wie der Islamismus die Welt erobert" (Allah's Fools. How Islamism is Conquering the World) by the Algerian writer and winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade Boualem Sansal. Joseph Croitoru read the polemic workMore

Interview with the Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal: "Take Islam back from the Islamists!"Boualem Sansal on Arab-Islamic Identity: The Islamists Will Govern Undemocratically German Peace Prize for Boualem Sansal: A Good, Cowardly Choice

Scene from "Al Oustadh" (copyright: Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud)

North Africa and the Arab Spring in Film

Between Rebellion and Ideals

North African countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Algeria are currently experiencing a boom in cinema that is critical of society and committed to political change. Yet, every country follows its own path. By Aude GensbittelMore

Mona El-Naggar: Close-Up on the Muslim Brotherhood's Grassroots Work Revolutionary Films in the Arab World: Taking Stock Political Documentary Films from Tunisia: At the Eye of Tunisia's Political Storm

The border juncture between Libya and Algeria (© DW/Valerie Stocker)

Libya's Border Triangle

Trouble Looming

The EU is supporting Libyan border security troops near Ghadames, but local members of the military complain of unclear structures and insufficient equipment. They put the blame on the government in Tripoli. Valerie Stocker reportsMore

Two Years after Gaddafi: Are We Facing a Second Somalia?Libya: A Sanctuary for Radicals and Militants "Gaddafi's Harem": A Monstrous Nexus of Power, Sexuality and Violence

The Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Interview with the Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal

"Take Islam back from the Islamists!"

Are Europe's democracies too weak to curb Islamism? Controversial Algerian writer Boualem Sansal sounds a warning. The time for political debate has passed, he tells Aya BachMore

Boualem Sansal on Arab-Islamic Identity: The Islamists Will Govern Undemocratically Boualem Sansal: What the Tragedy in Algeria Has Taught Us Boualem Sansal: "There Are Parallels between Islamism and National Socialism"

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the People's Palace in the capital Algiers on April 15, 2013 (photo: Farouk Batiche/AFP/Getty Images)

Algerian Paralysis

Bouteflika's Uncertain Future

The future of ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has not been settled – and the nation's powerful figures are nervous. The country is still puzzling over the question of who might succeed him. By Christoph ErhardtMore

Algeria and the Arab Spring: Opting for the Status Quo Rather than Experimentation Interview with Werner Ruf: "Algeria is a Thoroughly Corrupt Country"Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal: What the Tragedy in Algeria Has Taught Us

The Algerian Novelist Yasmina Khadra (photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Interview with the Algerian Novelist Yasmina Khadra

"There Is a Life after Defeat"

Now based in France, the Algerian writer Yasmina Khadra is one of his country's most successful authors. The film The Attack, based on Yasmina Khadra's book of the same name, was honoured as Best International Literary Adaptation at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair. Regina Keil-Sagawe joined the novelist for an espressoMore

Yasmina Khadra: "The Arab World is not just a Postcard with Dunes and Caravans"Yasmina Khadra: Love and Nostalgia in Times of War Yasmina Khadra: "The Sirens of Bagdad": The Logic of Terrorism