Introduction

Background

Algeria has a rich history marked by numerous empires and dynasties, including the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C.), Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, a multitude of Arab and Amazigh dynasties, Spaniards, and Ottoman Turks. The Barbary pirates operated from North Africa under Ottoman rule, engaging in piracy against shipping from approximately 1500 until the French seizure of Algiers in 1830. The French expansion into Algeria unfolded throughout the 19th century and was characterized by numerous atrocities. An intense eight-year conflict ultimately led to Algeria achieving independence in 1962.

The National Liberation Front (FLN), Algeria's historically dominant political party, was founded in 1954 during the independence struggle and has since been a significant player in the political landscape, although it is losing support among the youth and current President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE. In response to civil unrest, the Algerian government introduced a multi-party system in 1988; however, the unexpected first-round victory of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1991 legislative elections prompted military intervention to delay the second round of voting, as the secular elite feared a potential extremist government. This military action against the FIS escalated into an insurgency and severe violence from 1992 to 1998, resulting in over 100,000 fatalities, many caused by extremist groups targeting rural populations. By the late 1990s, the government had regained control, and the FIS's armed branch, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in 2000. Membership in the FIS is currently prohibited.

In 1999, Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA was elected president with military support, in an election boycotted by various candidates protesting alleged electoral fraud. He subsequently secured re-election in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Widespread protests erupted in early 2019 against his attempt to run for a fifth term. BOUTEFLIKA resigned in April 2019, and in December 2019, Algerians voted former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE into the presidency. A long-standing member of the FLN, TEBBOUNE campaigned as an independent. In 2020, a constitutional referendum regarding governmental reforms was conducted, which TEBBOUNE implemented in 2021. The ensuing changes to the national electoral law introduced open-list voting to combat corruption, while also removing gender quotas in Parliament, leading to a significant decline in female representation during the 2021 legislative elections. The referendum, parliamentary elections, and local elections all experienced historically low voter turnout.