The image, and the reality

Algeria’s president is well-received abroad. But the army still calls the shots

Jul 27th 2000|

NOWADAYS, Algeria's image is that of a country emerging into the light from a dark decade of strife and bloodshed. After offering an amnesty to Islamic militants a year ago, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika secured the disbanding of the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS). This is the armed wing of the outlawed political party that was deprived of its electoral victory in 1992, thus sparking the violence. The violence is nowhere near the horrific levels it attained in the mid-1990s. The cities are safe and random bomb explosions in public places have ceased.

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “The image, and the reality”