Algeria is not new to fundamentalist violence and Islamic radicals have often struck domestic interests to bring about a political change in the predominantly Muslim country. But what concerns the most is the manner of yesterday’s deadly bombings which seemed to have targeted international interests including that of the United Nations in an affluent Algiers district. The blasts are a proof of an ever-spreading Al-Qaeda web across the Mediterranean North Africa.
The vulnerable domestic situation in Algeria makes it a perfect target for Al-Qaeda exploitation. Ever since the Algerian army cancelled elections in the early 1990s to prevent a fundamentalist government taking over the country, radicals have taken a violent approach to bring about a political change. But intelligence evidence suggests Al-Qaeda has been providing strategic support to the local groups in taking the war to international interests, particularly against French and Spanish targets who along with the United States have been providing the country with all the necessary means to fight terrorism. According to many analysts the sole purpose of the bombings is to target French citizens along with governmental interests.
This is not just Algeria’s problem. Across the north African region Al-Qaeda has set up bases to launch attacks against west-leaning local governments and to be at a touching distance from mainland Europe. The suicide bombings are a way to make ordinary citizens put immense pressure on their governments to give up western alliances. Regular violence would make people go against the government and that is where lies Al-Qaeda’s chance in establishing radical governments.
With unemployment and poverty widespread across Algeria, there is no dearth of recruits for Al-Qaeda and this is another problem that the government of President Bouteflika needs to address. The country needs to put its huge energy reserves in the proper economical development. For now, Al-Qaeda is taking the advantage of deprived communities of Algeria.
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Image Link: BBC
