| |||||||
| Anthem | "Kassaman" | ||||||
| Capital | Algiers | ||||||
| Largest city | Algiers | ||||||
| Language | Arabic | ||||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||||
| Ethnic Groups main |
Arab-Berber | ||||||
| others | French | ||||||
| Demonym | Algerian | ||||||
| Government | Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic | ||||||
| President | |||||||
| Currency | Algerian dinar | ||||||
Algeria is one of the largest nations located in Africa. Once France's closest colony, Algeria was ruled by a French elite colonial class until the country was forcible separated from France following World War I. The Islamic majority retook control of the country, until France reconquered the nation in a short war in 1937. Resistance groups formed against French control, and Algeria once again became independence in 1946 after France's defeat. A series of presidents attempted to modernize and industrialize Algeria, resulting in several fundamentalist, isolationist groups forming, especially in the 1980s and 1990sm, along with communist and Unitarian guerrillas. In an effort to maintain control, President Chadli Bendjedid became more and more authoritarian and reliant on the military, resulting in a civil war in the 1990s. Democratic forces won in 2002, with democratic elections taking place since then. Algeria possesses one of the largest oil and natural gas reserves on the planet, and with oil prices returning to normal Algeria's economy has been on the rise.