The French magazine Current Values dedicated its issue from August 22 to 28, 2024, to the complete failure of the Algerian regime. Algeria is analyzed through a lens that exposes the harsh reality of a deteriorating system, plagued by militarism and economic stagnation. Renowned experts paint a grim picture of this country, where corruption, authoritarianism, and the despair of the youth intertwine to create a profoundly troubling scenario.
The analysis of contemporary Algeria by Current Values is consistently relevant. “Abdelmadjid Tebboune buys peace in Algeria with subsidies, while increasing the arrests of opponents,” the weekly publication condemns, adding that “The army is the only institution that will yield immediate and lasting effects from redistributive policies. The rest of the economy is a bottomless pit. Its engine is constrained by old socialist shackles, worn down by undeclared work and corruption, and burdened by a rapidly growing population.” This critique encapsulates the decay of an economy doomed by ineffective governance, where wealth redistribution primarily benefits a select few privileged individuals and generals, while the majority lives in poverty.
Militarism in Algeria is depicted as a cancer that is consuming the nation. In 2023, Algeria allocated 16.5 billion euros for military equipment, an amount exceeding that of France. This display of strength emphasizes the dominance of the generals, who effectively wield significant control over state affairs. The magazine describes a nation where military power has become paramount, overshadowing civilian institutions and stifling the country’s economic potential.
The intricate relationship between France and Algeria is also examined with sharp insight. Current Values reminds readers of France’s recent acknowledgment of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, as well as Algiers’ furious response, which led to the immediate recall of its ambassador to Paris. The Élysée, “frustrated with the obstacles encountered in Algeria, may have leaned toward reconciliation with France’s main economic and financial partner in Africa,” the magazine observes, noting that “Time has not erased the National Liberation Front (FLN) leaders’ tendency to distort bilateral relations by manipulating history for domestic political gain.”
«For Islamists, Tebboune’s Algeria is formidable»
Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who was dismissed from his government position in 2003 due to his critical stance against the Algerian government, offers valuable insights into the internal situation in Algeria. He asserts, “For Islamists, Tebboune’s Algeria is formidable.” He describes a context where “After the collapse of the Hirak (2019-2020), hindered by Covid and its own inconsistencies, the government prohibited all public demonstrations and significantly intensified repression.”
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The population, weary of war and repression, has stopped making demands, and dissenting voices are silenced through severe repression: “Newspapers have been shut down, journalists imprisoned, and some are reported to have died under torture. Exhausted by the relentless conflict, the people have surrendered completely and are no longer demanding anything.,” observes Sansal.
Sansal portrays an Algeria caught in a “way of life” shared between the military and the Islamists, an arrangement that resembles a “mafia scheme for dividing the country and its resources.” This toxic alliance among the military elite, the business sector, and Islamist factions has ensnared Algerian society in a trap of corruption and oppression.
The need to abolish the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968
Xavier Driencourt, former French ambassador to Algeria, criticizes the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement regarding the settlement of Algerians in France. According to him, this agreement “is incompatible with French immigration legislation, grants excessive privileges to Algerians wishing to come to France, and encourages illegal immigration through easy circumvention.” Driencourt highlights the loopholes within the system that allow Algerians to bypass standard visa regulations, thereby facilitating irregular immigration to France. He states that “The 1968 agreement is precisely the root cause of illegal Algerian immigration since a short-stay visa can be misused.”
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«While foreign spouses need a long-stay visa (VLS) to come to France, Algerian spouses can enter with just a tourist visa (short-stay visa). They can then obtain a resident card after one year, in contrast to the three years required for non-Algerian foreigners. Algerian parents are not required to demonstrate that they exercise parental authority or contribute significantly to their children’s upbringing. Dependents, whether Algerian ascendants or descendants, also do not need a long-stay visa to come to France; a tourist visa (short stay) suffices to join family and then apply for a ten-year residence permit.” explains Driencourt.
«The French authorities claiming to combat illegal immigration should recognize that the 1968 agreement is the root cause of illegal Algerian immigration as a short-stay visa can be diverted from its intended use (tourism, family visit) to facilitate long-term settlement in France (which is only available for other foreigners through a long-stay visa).” concludes the French diplomat.
The Algerian Regime: A Critical Analysis by Current Values
The French magazine Current Values has dedicated its August 22 to 28, 2024 issue to the pervasive failures of the Algerian regime. The publication examines Algeria through a lens that exposes the stark realities of a faltering system, deeply entrenched in militarism and economic stagnation. Esteemed experts contribute to a portrait of a nation fraught with corruption, authoritarian rule, and the despairing plight of its youth, painting a distressing picture of contemporary Algeria.
A Failing Economy Under Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Current Values offers a searing critique of Algeria’s socio-economic landscape, highlighting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s tactic of buying peace through subsidies while escalating the arrest of dissenters. The magazine highlights, “The army is the only institution on which redistributive policy will produce immediate and lasting effects. The rest of the economy is a bottomless pit, shackled by outdated socialist structures, undermined by undeclared work, and burdened by an ever-increasing population.” This commentary encapsulates the decay of an economy that serves a select few—usually aligned with military generals—while the majority languish in poverty.
Militarism: The Cancer of Algeria
In a compelling analysis, *Current Values* describes Algeria’s militarism as a cancerous growth infecting the nation. In 2023, the country allocated 16.5 billion euros towards military supplies, surpassing France’s military budget. This display of strength emphasizes the dominance of military leaders who effectively command both state policies and economic directions. The magazine characterizes a situation where military power eclipses civilian governance, curtailing Algeria’s economic potential.
The Franco-Algerian Dynamic
The turbulent relationship between France and Algeria is scrutinized with remarkable clarity. The recognition by France of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara had triggered a furor in Algiers, leading to the immediate recall of its ambassador to Paris. The Élysée Palace—frustrated with obstacles in bilateral relations—seeks reconciliation with Algeria’s primary economic partner in Africa. Still, Current Values notes that the habit of Algeria’s ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) uses historical narratives to manipulate political relationships persists.
Insights from Boualem Sansal
Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who faced repercussions for his critical stance against the Algerian government, provides invaluable insight into the current political climate. He asserts, “For Islamists, Tebboune’s Algeria is formidable.” He observes a context where, following the Hirak Movement’s failures (2019-2020) and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has responded by prohibiting all public demonstrations and increasing state repression.
Repression and Dissent: A Stifled Voice
The populace, weary from years of conflict and crackdowns, has seemingly ceased its demands for change. According to Sansal, “Newspapers have been closed, journalists imprisoned, and some have reportedly died under torture.” The exhaustion from relentless violence has led many citizens to resign themselves to their fate.
A Coalition of Corruption
Sansal paints a picture of an Algeria caught in a nexus between military influence and Islamist control, akin to a “mafia plan for sharing the country and its resources.” This destructive coalition among military elites, business leaders, and Islamic factions has entrapped Algerian society in a web of corruption and oppression.
The Call to Repeal the 1968 Franco-Algerian Agreement
Xavier Driencourt, a former French ambassador to Algeria, strongly criticizes the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement concerning the settlement of Algerians in France. Driencourt argues that this pact imposes specific constraints on French immigration law and creates exceptional advantages for Algerians. He stated, “The 1968 agreement is precisely the origin of illegal Algerian immigration since a short-stay visa can be misused for long-term settlement.“
Analyzing the Flaws in the System
Driencourt elaborates on the system’s deficiencies, mentioning that Algerians can navigate existing immigration controls with greater ease than their non-Algerian counterparts. “While spouses of foreigners need a long-stay visa to come to France, Algerians can enter on a short-stay visa and later secure residency after just a year.” This disparity points to a systemic issue, contributing to increasing illegal immigration from Algeria to France.
Statistical Overview: Military Investment vs. Economic Growth
| Year | Military Investment (in billion euros) | Projected Economic Growth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16.5 | -0.5 |
| 2024 | Forecast N/A | -1.0 |
| 2025 | Forecast N/A | 1.0 |
Implications for Future Policies
As the landscape of Algeria continues to evolve amid military dominance and political instability, the pressing need for systemic reform becomes evident. The interconnections between military expenditure, economic performance, and public dissent underscore the challenge for the Algerian regime to navigate towards a more equitable and peaceful future.
The ongoing narrative surrounding Algeria’s governance and reform, highlighted by the assessive lens of Current Values, serves as an urgent call for both national introspection and international awareness.
