Problems Visitors Face When Visiting Algeria

Algeria is a county that has been on the brink of a civil war for a number of years. If you are considering traveling to this African country you will need to know what you can expect to experience while in Algeria. Here is a look at some of the common concerns and problems that will arise for travelers to Algeria.

Fake Roadblocks. Fake roadblocks are a common problem in the outskirts of Algeria. People will set up roadblocks that look like a normal roadblock that are put up by the government. When the people stop at the fake roadblocks the people will rob them and sometimes kill them. This is why it is recommended that you always travel with an Algerian guide as they will know how to avoid these roadblocks.

Car Jacking. Car jackings are very common in Algeria. Sometimes these occur by having the people set up fake roadblocks. Other times the people just walk right up to the car and will take the car. Many times it is recommended to just let them have the vehicle as these people have been known to murder or kill over the vehicle.

Car Bombings. Car bombings have become a regular problem in Algeria. While there is nothing that you can do to prevent a car bombing attack you can try to stay in well known hotels and off the streets at night.

Terrorist Attacks. Algeria is still at risk of terrorist attacks even in the city capital. These attacks are done from the back of wheeled vehicles and include multiple guns and shootings.

Kidnappings. Kidnappings are a major concern for travelers. Terrorist groups will often try to kidnap overseas visitors in an attempt to gain notability and the attention of the Algerian government. It is advised to travel in groups through Algeria due to the concern over kidnappings.

Languages of Algeria

If you are planning on visiting Algeria you will need to know about the language of Algeria. There are four major languages spoken through Algeria. These languages include Arabic, Berber, English and French. Here is a look at the statistics of the languages and how widely spoken these languages are throughout the country of Algeria.

Arabic. Arabic was the official national language of Algeria. Throughout the country of Algeria everything is spoken in standard Arabic. Over 83% of the population speaks some form of Arabic. It is believed that 78% of those that speak Arabic speak the Algerian Arabic and 5% speak Hassaniya. Even those that speak other languages speak Arabic as a second language.

Berber. Berber was made a co-national language of Algeria in 2002. About 40% of the population speaks Berber. However, Berber is most popularly used in the Aures, Kabylia and Sahara. Berber is still commonly used in the Algerian capital city. It is assumed that historically Berber was the main language of Algeria and was replaced over the years with Arabic which is why Berber was added as a national language in 2002.

French. French is the most popular foreign language of choice by those in Algeria. It is taught in every Algerian school. Even those that do not know how to speak French fluently understand the language and can speak a little bit of it. In recent years French has started to make its way into the early classroom curriculum. Occasionally French will be used by the major national media outlets and found in the newspapers and news programs.

English. English has started to make its way into the Algerian language. In the 1990s it was decided to start teaching English to those in middle school to allow them to become accustomed to the language. However, English is not widely spoken in the country of Algeria.

An Overview of the Algerian Government

Every country has a political system or structure. Each political system and structure is unique to the country’s history and belief system. Due to the political instability in Algeria the Algerian government and politics are always changing. Here is a look at the basic elements of the Algerian political system.

Political System. Algeria is set up in a presidential republic with a mix of constitutional republic. A presidential republic allows the president of the country to be considered a head of state while the prime minister of the country runs the governmental side of it. The constitutional republic side comes in with the public voting who they wish to have elected to office.

Voting Age. Algeria allows citizens of the country to vote once they turn 18.

The President. The President of Algeria is a head of state that is used like a political diplomat. The President is voted into office for a five year term. In 2008, the Algerian constitution was changed to allow any Algerian President to run for multiple terms.

The Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Algeria and is in charge of the government aspect of the country.

The Parliament. The Algerian parliament is considered bicameral which means it is made up of two chambers. The two chambers are the National People’s Assembly and the Council of Nation. The National People’s Assembly is made up of 380 members that are elected to their position by the public. The Council of Nation is appointed to office by the Prime Minister and is made up of 144 people.

Election Terms. The National People’s Assembly is elected to their position in parliament for a period of five years. They are allowed to run again after their term has expired. The Council of Nation stays in office until the Prime Minister wishes to change who is in office.

A Look at the Violence in Algeria

Algeria has long been associated with extremely violent conditions that have caused many deaths and suffering to the people who live there. In fact, in the early 90s it was almost impossible to gain a travel visa to Algeria due to the extreme violence the country was going through. Here is a look at the violence and suffering suffered through Algeria and what the Algerian government is doing to improve conditions throughout the country.

In 1990 the violence in Algeria reached an all time high. Previously there had been some terrorist activities but nothing like how it was in 1990. It was estimated that over 150,000  deaths were caused by terrorist activities. There were constant bombings, car bombings and random street violence throughout Algeria.

The Algerian government has done a lot since the 1990s to address the underlying violence that the nation has. The first step to addressing the violence included addressing the major issues that were causing the terrorist activities. This involved working with the opposing forces to address the main concerns that were being presented.

While Algeria has not seen a period of intense peace it has seen a lot of the political turmoil and terrorist activities diminish. This is due to President Bouteflika’s Charter of Peace and National Reconciliation. Many extreme groups that were the cause of the turmoil and terrorist activities have signed this charter and started to move on. This compromise with these groups has allowed Algeria to recover from the extremely violent conditions it used to have.

Even with this Charter of Peace and National Reconciliation there is still a threat to those that are in Algeria. The most extreme threat that presents itself is that of the extreme group of Islamists known as al-Qaida. These groups are still responsible for a large majority of the political and religious turmoil that Algeria experiences today.

A Look at the Algerian Educational System

Educational systems can tell you a lot about a country. Over the past couple of years the Algerian educational system has changed and grown to what it is today. Here is a look at some of the highlights of the Algerian educational system.

The Algerian educational system was almost non-existent when Algeria was under French rule. Education was dependent upon parents teaching children and no real structure or educational system was in place. However, once Algeria gained its independence from France in 1962 it was able to start developing an educational system.

It wasn’t until 1999 that Algeria was really able to devote the energy and resources to a properly built educational system structure. The newly developed educational system requires that students attend school until the age of 16. The government funds the educational system and pays for all students’ education. It is estimated that over five million Algerian children attend a school through the Algerian educational system.

However, there are limitations to the Algerian educational system. Algeria is a country that is constantly growing in population. This population growth has put a high demand on teachers and larger schools. However, the country of Algeria does not have the funds or resources to devote to more teachers or larger schools. It is not uncommon to see small school structures cramped with students or teachers overwhelmed with students because of this demand on the educational system.

Due to this limitation it has caused the country to devote the time and energy to their educational system. In 2004, Algeria launched an extensive educational reform review that looks at the whole educational system and how it can be improved.

Despite the efforts to devote educational resources, Algeria still does not have an established college or university. Students who wish to continue their education must attend a college or university in Europe or Canada.

Avoid Counterfeit Items, Avoid Jail Time

While on a vacation or traveling through the country of Algeria you may be presented with people who are selling bootlegged or counterfeit goods. While it might seem innocent enough to purchase such goods from these people it is advised to stay away from these goods.

Travelers to Algeria are advised to stay away from the bootlegged or counterfeit goods for a number of reasons. The first reason is that it is against the law in their country of origin. Even if nothing happens to the traveler when they purchase the bootlegged or counterfeit goods, something could happen when they land. For example, if a United States citizen purchases counterfeit goods in Algeria and travels back to the United States. While they are in customs coming back into the country the counterfeit goods could be found and the traveler could be punished according to the United States laws. Most laws in the United States require fines and jail time depending upon the type of counterfeit goods.

The second reason that travelers should avoid bootlegged or counterfeit goods is because it could be against the law in Algeria. Algeria has a lot of areas that are governed by local laws. Depending upon the local law in the area you purchased the good it could be against the law. Breaking Algerian law could result in stiff fines, harsh jail conditions, being expelled from the country and other punishments. It is hard to say what the consequence will be because many of the Algerian areas have their own independent laws and consequences.

Even though it might seem innocent enough to purchase bootlegged or counterfeit items while traveling through Algeria it is best that you stay away from them. You never know what laws you could be breaking and fines or jail time can be very hefty depending upon the infraction.

Algerian Law: A Brief Look at Algerian Animal Preservation and Export Laws

Algeria is the second largest country in Africa. It is known to everyone all over the world for having some of the most amazing and unique animals. While many countries allow other countries to come in and take these native animals to zoos and animal reservations, Algeria is very guarded about their animals. In fact, many of the animals that are found in Algeria can only be found in this African country because the government does not allow the import or export of any exotic wild animals. However, there are some animals that Algeria will export for use in local zoos. Here is a look at some of the amazing exotic animals that Algeria strictly prohibits any animal exportation and even some of the animals that are allowed to be exported.

Exotic Birds. There are over 401 different exotic birds that can be seen in the country of Algeria. Many of these exotic birds are protected by Algerian animal preservation laws and cannot be taken out of the county. However, there are some exotic birds that have been exported to local zoos. These animals that are available for export from Algeria include ostriches and flamingos.

Endangered Species. Almost all the endangered species that are found in Algeria are protected under the Algerian preservation acts. These acts prohibit the hunting of these animals. Some of these endangered species are sent out to local zoos in order to help protect these endangered animals. Animals that are protected under the Algerian preservation act include African bats, Algerian wild dog, a barbary macques and a serval.

Extinct Species. It is against the law to hunt or capture any of the following animals should you come into contact with them: the scimitar oryx and the Barbary lion. While it is unlikely you would come into contact with these species it is important to know the laws of Algeria in regards to these animals.

Algerian Law: Does Algeria Monitor Email Communication?

Technology being the way that it is can lead to many people using it for the wrong reasons. This is why many countries put into place a law that allows the government and country to monitor email and internet communication of those within the country. If you are heading to the country of Algeria it is important to know if Algeria monitors email communication of those that are in the country. Here is a look at what email monitoring is and why it is commonly done.

Email monitoring refers to the monitoring of all communication that is done via email. This is done through a complex security system that tracks and records every email that is sent through the system. Generally countries that have email monitoring laws do not have private internet service providers and require citizens to sign into a government run internet service provider. It is through this service provider that the emails and internet actions are tracked.

Email monitoring is put into effect because countries fear that their citizens and visitors may be engaging in illegal activities that could compromise the security of the country. It is believed that by tracking email communications countries are able to pin point security attacks and other problems that might arise. Email monitoring is also put into effect to prevent state secrets and other information being leaked to the surrounding public.

Algeria is amongst over a hundred different countries that currently does not have any type of email monitoring laws. Algeria also does not limit the internet access that visitors and citizens have. This allows anyone, whether they are visiting the country or a citizen, to be able to use their email and Internet without having to worry about the government tracking and monitoring any ingoing and outgoing emails and watching their every move on the Internet.

Business Etiquette, Customs, and Protocol of Algeria

In Algeria, it is important in business to build trust and rapport in personal relationships. One thing that stands out is the fact that Algerians do not put a lot of personal space between them when they are speaking. Visitors to Algeria should never back away if someone stands close to them or holds onto their arms.

Keeping an honorable reputation is important to Algerians. They will even go so far as to tell people what they think the others want to hear even when it is not the truth as they feel this protects their good names. Always keep this in mind during communication with Algerians. You do not want to be the cause of them losing face. There is no other place on earth that the saying “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours” is truer than Algeria. Doing favors for each other is a popular concept.

When it comes to business meetings, it is necessary to make appointments and make them as far ahead of time as possible. Also, confirm any scheduled meetings a day or 2 prior. Do not schedule meetings during Ramadan, and keep in mind that Fridays are the Muslim holiday so most companies are not in operation then. Do your best to arrive for the meetings on time and be ready to wait. Algerian businesses that are used to international companies will try to be on time. However, it is sometimes hard for them to do this.

Generally speaking, Algerians practice an open door policy that does not exclude meetings. So you need to be ready for frequent interruptions. Other people may even come in and start talking about something different in the middle of your meeting. You are free to participate but do not change the topic back to your business until that person leaves.

Algerian Cuisine

Farinata in Liguria, Italy.
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Due to the Ottoman occupation, Algerian cuisine has a fair bit of Ottoman-Turkish influence, and the different regions of the country have additional cultural influences on the food. The main culinary regions are Algiers, Oran (influenced by Moroccan cuisine), Constantine (with Tunisian influence), Kabylie and Sahara.

While each region certainly has its own specialties, there are some commonalities. Algeria produces vast quantities of fruit and vegetables which form a large part of their diet. Lamb is one of the more popular meats, and seafood and fish commonly supplement the diet.

Arabic flatbread called khabz is the main bread consumed by Algerians, and it is present at every meal. The national dish is merguez. Merguez is a heavily spiced lamb sausage, though sometimes other meats are used. It is typically grilled and serve alongside couscous. Other regional dishes include berber couscous and karantita. Karantita is similar to the Italian farinata dish, which is crisp bread made from chickpea flour. In Algeria it is heavily seasoned with cumin and harissa and is served hot. Tlemcen is famous for their pastille, which is an elaborate meat pie that generally takes two days to make.

Algerian cuisine is typically highly seasoned. Spices such as red chillies, caraway, cumin, black pepper and more are generally used in abundance.

Interestingly, Algerians are the second largest consumers of honey in the world. It can be found in pastries, teas and juices. Mint tea is the beverage of choice in the mornings but it also accompanies ceremonies and desserts. Coffee is consumed in great quantities, and Turkish coffee is among the most popular. Seasonal fruits are often served at the end of meals, though baked pastries such as nougat, asida and makroudh are also popular.

Algerian cuisine combines flavors like Scott Kay jewelry uses intricate designs; each dish is a work of art incorporating local produce and meats, along with abundant yet harmonious spices.

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