Algeria
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Official name: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
unless otherwise indicated, all statistics as at 2005
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Algeria is the second largest country on the African continent. It is bordered by Tunisia in the northeast, Libya in the east, Niger in the southeast, Mali and Mauritania in the southwest, and Morocco as well as a few kilometers of the Western Sahara in the west.
[edit] Region
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] History
- Algeria was a French colony for 132 years gaining independence in 1962 after a bitter war of liberation. Democratic elections in 1992 gave victory to an Islamic political party, but the results were annulled by the army. The ensuing civil war has caused 100,000 deaths. The country has suffered again from terrorist bombings in the second part of 2007.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
- The Berber peoples could make up as much as 40% of the population, but the Arab majority have tried to impose their culture on them and stopped them from using their own languages. Ten thousands in the Kabyle region have become Christians and meet openly in their villages. Pray that these churches would be protected from persecution and would grow in the grace of God.
[edit] Provinces
- Algiers, population 2 million
[edit] Life
- As many as 2.5 million Algerians have left their country and moved to Europe. Pray that there could be more opportunity for them to hear about Jesus Christ.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
[edit] Terrorism:
- For the majority of 2006, the security situation in Algeria remained relatively unchanged, marked by stability in the major urban areas and low-level terrorist activities in the countryside. The last quarter of the year, however, witnessed four attacks in the province of Algiers, including one that targeted Westerners. These were the first attacks inside the province since 2004. Until these recent attacks, terrorism in Algeria was generally not aimed at foreign entities. Instead, the country's major terrorist group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), preferred to target Algerian government interests.
- Two events helped fuel terrorism concerns in Algeria: the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat’s (GSPC) September 2006 merger with Al Qaeda and the conclusion of the amnesty period for Algeria's National Reconciliation project. Following Al Qaeda’s September 11, 2006 announcement of the GSPC’s status as an affiliate in North Africa, the group changed its name to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and subsequently made more threats against what it termed “crusading” westerners, particularly American and French citizens.
- On October 19, 2006, a device exploded outside a military barracks in an Algiers suburb, wounding six, and on October 30, 2006 two bombs killed two persons approximately 20 kilometers from downtown Algiers.
- On December 10, 2006, a shuttle bus carrying expatriate workers of an American oil services company was ambushed in an Algiers suburb thought to be secure because of its proximity to residences of senior government officials and a major western hotel. The attack killed two foreigners and wounded several others, including an American worker. The terrorists escaped. The December 10 attack generated greater global media attention than nearly all of AQIM/GSPC past attacks against Algerian government targets. Given the success of this attack in terms of media attention, the AQIM/GSPC likely will likely attempt further attacks.
- The Algerian services killed approximately 260 terrorists and arrested an additional 450 in 2006, compared to the combined killed and arrested figure of about 400 for 2005. The counterterrorism successes of the Algerian services, combined with the public's continued rejection of terrorists, led the AQIM/GSPC to seek new methods to finance attacks.
[edit] Religion
- Islam 96.7%, Non-Religious 3%, Christianity 0.3%
[edit] Islam
- Muslims comprise 96.7% of Algeria’s population. The constitution declares Islam to be the state religion and prohibits institutions from engaging in behavior incompatible with Islamic morality.
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
- 0.29 %
- Believers in the cities are few in number and keep a lower profile whilst in many Berber-Kabyle villages, Christian meetings are well-known and held openly. Several thousand new believers in the Messiah live in the valleys of the mountains. Pray for evangelism to succeed in the establishment of strong indigenous groups with effective leaders steeped in the Word. Also pray for the protection of Arab believers in persecution and the strengthening of Christian families.
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
[edit] Church and State Relations
- Challenges for Christians: In 2006, the government confined non-Muslim worship to specific buildings approved by the state, increased requirements for the registration of religious organizations, increased punishments for anyone who proselytizes Muslims, and made regulations on the importation of non-Islamic religious texts more stringent through the adoption of a new ordinance.
- Conversions from Islam to other religions are rare. Shari'a, as interpreted in the country, does not recognize conversion from Islam to any other religion. However, conversion is not illegal under civil law. Due to safety concerns and potential legal and social problems, Muslim converts practice their new faith clandestinely. Christians report that conversions to Christianity take place.
- March 2008: The first churches have been ordered to close, it is feared that many more churches will be closed by the government.
- One family of afellowship carries on in the midst of widespread closing of churches and deportation of Christian workers. The government is trying to clamp down harshly on a significant movement to Christ among the indigenous Berber peoples.
[edit] Mission
- Opposition to the gospel is intense. Over 160 years of tearful sowing by a tenacious succession of missionaries is only now bearing fruit. North Africans have long and bitter memories of "Christian" conquests, colonialism and atrocities. Pray that centuries of prejudice and misunderstandings may be taken away and hearts opened to the gospel message.
- Pray for the mobilisation of the churches in Algeria where there are over 70,000 local Christians, mostly among the Berber-Kabyle. May vibrant faith make an impact wherever they go. May many among them become witnesses in other countries, including France and even in other countries in Europe.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Persecution
- A 2006 national law essentially forbids any Christian evangelism efforts.
- Algerian Christian leaders have asked for prayerful support as Christian believers are being pressured in three ways:
- First, there is a sustained and intense media campaign against the Algerian Church.
- Second, seven fellowships are known to have been closed by authorities in the last year.
- Third, several Christian believers have been formally charged over matters related to their Christian faith.
- Pray for an end to terrorist attacks, pastors being threatened and shot at, churches being closed down, people losing their jobs, the government making and enforcing rules against proselytizing. Please pray that this persecution will help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and purify the Christians.
- However, Muslims are coming to Christ in Algeria as never before, mostly in mountain villages among Berber ethnic groups. The Algerian church has grown to about 70,000 adherents. Seventy percent of the Christians are under the age of 30. Hundreds stand in line for more than an hour just to attend services in one church building.
- More details you can read at this link: Window International Network
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
