Algeria

protesters, map of mining site

An Algerian court has acquitted university lecturer and scientist Kamel A茂ssat on all charges related to his opposition to a lead and zinc mine on Algeria鈥檚 Mediterranean coast, following an international campaign of solidarity, reports Susan Price.

Algeria mine

Algeria is being seriously affected by climate change, yet authorities have agreed to a dangerous new mine, a joint venture with South Australian based miner Terramin, reports Susan Price.

Algeria has suspended its treaty of 鈥渇riendship, good-neighbourliness and cooperation鈥 with Spain due to its聽public acceptance of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, writes Dick Nichols.

The influence of French colonialism on the work of existentialist writer Albert Camus is significant. But聽Alex Miller argues that a new introduction to Camus' work vastly overstates the case.

The Bab El-Oued district, one of the popular areas of Algiers, took April 19 off to prepare for another special day 鈥 the ninth consecutive Friday of protests against the political system in Algeria.

Abdelkader Bensalah was appointed interim president following the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika after weeks of mass protests.

If the horrific attacks in Paris, France have taught us anything, it is that some tragedies matter more than others. For example, look no further than these headlines: 鈥 (ABC/AP, November 14); 鈥 (The Daily Beast, November 14);
Western Sahara is recognised by the United Nations as the last non-self-governing territory in Africa. Between 1973 and 1991 it was at war, as the pro-independence Polisario Front fought first against colonial rulers Spain, and after 1975, against Morocco, which invaded with Spanish encouragement. In 1991, a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire was supposed to bring peace, based on a referendum on independence. However, the UN-promised referendum has never been held. Overt support from France, and more tacit support from the US, has enabled Morocco to have it indefinitely postponed.
Players in Algeria's national football team have announced that they plan to put prize money earned in the World Cup to good use, said on July 2. Striker Islam Slimani said the entire squad would donate the earnings to the people of embattled Gaza, saying 鈥淭hey need it more than us鈥.
Ahmed Ben Bella, a leader of Algeria's fight against French colonial rule, died on April 11 aged 95. Ben Bella was the north African nation's first president after it won independence in 1962, until a 1965 coup. Ben Bella was active in fighting French rule from the 1940s. After the French were forced to grant Algeria independence in 1962, Ben Bella sought to promote a socialist path for the Algerian revolution 鈥 promoting policies such as agrarian reform and workers' self-management. The right-wing coup in 1965 that overthrew his rule ended Algeria's socialist trajectory.