| − | <div style="clear: both"></div><div class="draft"></div><div class="draft"></div><div class="draft">Algeria is located in North Africa and is bordering Tunisia and Libya in the east, Niger and Mali in the south, and Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Morocco in the west. In the north, Algeria’s vast coast of over 1.200 km extends to the Mediterranean Sea. Being part of the Maghreb, Algeria is furthermore considered to be a part of the MENA-region. With its more than two million km2 of national territory, Algeria is by far the largest North African country. However, most of its national territory is being occupied by the Sahara, which thus explains the population of roughly 33 million people.<ref name="null">Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> This is also expressed in the arrangement of population density: 90% of the population is located in the north.<ref name="null">Deutsche Außenhandelskammer (German Chamber of Foreign Trade - AHK), Last Updated: 2011, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://algerien.ahk.de/algerien/</ref> The mild Mediterranean climate coming from the coast is being replaced by a dry desert climate while moving south. The official language is Arabic, although French can be considered to be a common lingua franca, whereas in some areas Berber dialects can be common as well.<ref name="null">Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> Having a parliament that consists of a national assembly and a senate, Algeria is a republic with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been reelected with 90.2% of votes in 2009,<ref>ibid. CIA World Factbook</ref> as its president since 1999.<ref name="null">Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> Ethnic groups are made up of a vast majority of Arab-Berber (99%). However, most Algerians identify themselves with their Berber heritage rather than their Arab one.<ref name="null">Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> The state religion is Sunni Muslim, likewise represented by a vast majority, while Christians and Jews make up less than 3% of the population.<ref>Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> <br>Minerals that can be found in this region are amongst others oil, gas, iron, and lead.<ref>Deutsche Außenhandelskammer (German Chamber of Foreign Trade - AHK), Last Updated: 2011, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://algerien.ahk.de/algerien/</ref> Together with agricultural goods, they make up the majority of export goods. Furthermore, they are the reason, why Algeria is part in international economic conglomerates, such as the OPEC or the OAPIC. Algeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been constantly rising in the last couple of years, bringing it to the approximate amount of $160 billion in 2010. The GDP per capita is hence about $7.3.<ref>Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> <br>Algeria has a number of transnational issues to deal with, including an international dispute with the Moroccan administration of Western Sahara and illegal schemes in form of smuggling, human trafficking and forced labor.<ref>Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> <br></div> | + | <div style="clear: both"></div><div class="draft"></div><div class="draft"></div><div class="draft">Algeria is located in North Africa and is bordering Tunisia and Libya in the east, Niger and Mali in the south, and Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Morocco in the west. In the north, Algeria’s vast coast of over 1.200 km extends to the Mediterranean Sea. Being part of the Maghreb, Algeria is furthermore considered to be a part of the MENA-region. With its more than two million km2 of national territory, Algeria is by far the largest North African country. However, most of its national territory is being occupied by the Sahara, which thus explains the population of roughly 33 million people.<ref name="null">Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> This is also expressed in the arrangement of population density: 90% of the population is located in the north.<ref name="null">Deutsche Außenhandelskammer (German Chamber of Foreign Trade - AHK), Last Updated: 2011, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://algerien.ahk.de/algerien/</ref> The mild Mediterranean climate coming from the coast is being replaced by a dry desert climate while moving south. The official language is Arabic, although French can be considered to be a common lingua franca, whereas in some areas Berber dialects can be common as well.<ref name="null">Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> Having a parliament that consists of a national assembly and a senate, Algeria is a republic with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been reelected with 90.2% of votes in 2009,<ref name="null">ibid. CIA World Factbook</ref> as its president since 1999.<ref name="null">Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> Ethnic groups are made up of a vast majority of Arab-Berber (99%). However, most Algerians identify themselves with their Berber heritage rather than their Arab one.<ref name="null">Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> The state religion is Sunni Muslim, likewise represented by a vast majority, while Christians and Jews make up less than 3% of the population.<ref>Auswärtiges Amt (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Last Updated: October, 2010, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes_Uebersichtsseiten/Algerien_node.html</ref> <br>Minerals that can be found in this region are amongst others oil, gas, iron, and lead.<ref>Deutsche Außenhandelskammer (German Chamber of Foreign Trade - AHK), Last Updated: 2011, Access: September 16, 2011, URL: http://algerien.ahk.de/algerien/</ref> Together with agricultural goods, they make up the majority of export goods. Furthermore, they are the reason, why Algeria is part in international economic conglomerates, such as the OPEC or the OAPIC. Algeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been constantly rising in the last couple of years, bringing it to the approximate amount of $160 billion in 2010. The GDP per capita is hence about $7.3.<ref>Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> <br>Algeria has a number of transnational issues to deal with, including an international dispute with the Moroccan administration of Western Sahara and illegal schemes in form of smuggling, human trafficking and forced labor.<ref>Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - World Factbook, Last Updated: August 23, 2011, Accessed: September 16, 2011, URL: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html</ref> <br></div> |
