Events from the year 2009 in Algeria
Incumbents President: Abdelaziz Bouteflika Prime Minister: Ahmed Ouyahia
Events January January 2: The death toll from political violence reached sixteen in the month of December 2008, double the number of the previous month. The total killed in 2008 dropped to 338 from 491 in 2007. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed to have murdered five members of government security forces in December 2008."Timeline-Algerian violence toll doubles in Dec, 2008 rate down", Reuters, January 3, 2009, internet article. January 3: Al-Qaeda's North African wing claimed to have killed at least 29 members of the Algerian security forces in the past three months. It conducted 21 attacks in northern Algeria, between September and December 2008. The incursions came in Béjaïa, Constantine, Algeria, and Biskra. The group was previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC)."Terror raids toll rises in Algeria", Gulf Daily News, January 4, 2009, internet posting. January 7: The Palestinian ambassador to Algeria, Ahmed Al-Hourani, emphasized the importance of regaining unity among all factions in Palestine. He told Fatour Essabah that Israel has set a new map of the region, separating the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, and joining them to Egypt and Jordan, respectively."Algerians can contribute in the unity of Palestine", El Khabar, January 8, 2009, internet article. January 7: In Dhebahia, western Bouïra Province, a 65-year-old woman sustained a leg injury while she was harvesting olives with another family member. She was treated in the emergency area of her town's hospital after she stepped on a bomb planted by terrorists."Blast injures seriously a woman in Bouïra", El Khabar, January 8, 2009, internet article. January 12: Protectors of the Salafiste Preaching Group, a rival terrorist organization to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is led by Mohamed Ben Salem, a.k.a. Abu Djaafar Al-Afghani. The group has posted video recordings of attacks against Algerian army forces in Tipaza, Sidi Bel Abbès, Ain Deffla, Relizene, and Tissemsilt. These are regions in which Al-Qaeda has yet to establish known bases."Salafiste Protectors resume terror activity", El Kabar, January 13, 2009, internet posting. January 12: Terrorist murdered a 40-year-old man and his 75-year-old mother during an ambush in Amelza in southern Sidi Bel Abbès. The attackers used a gun stolen from an 80-year-old man to kill the two people and injure another relative, who was hospitalized."Terrorists kill 75-year-old woman and her son in Sidi Bel Abbès", El Khabar, January 13, 2009, internet posting. January 13: Reporters Without Borders urged Algerian authorities to conduct a full investigation into the attempted murder of Hafnaoui Ghoul, a journalist for the daily al-Wassat. Ghoul, a human rights advocate, was approached by a group of hooded assailants who gagged him and tore his clothes on the night of January 6, 2009. The attempt came at Ghoul's home in Djelfa and the attackers fled without being identified."Algeria-Hooded assailants launch knife attack against journalist", CNW Group-Canada Newswire, January 15, 2009, internet article. January 14: The criminal court in Algiers has sentenced to death a terrorist bearing the initials K.J., with the nickname Abou Khitama. He was charged with killing hundreds of civilians and security agents after joining terror organizations in Aïn Defla province in 1994. Khitama was arrested on June 13, 2005. His murders occurred over the years from 1996 to 2005."Blood thirsty terrorist sentenced to death", El Khabar, January 15, 2009, internet article. January 14: Algerian Labour Party PT Louisa Hanoune expressed opposition to a government proposal to install a national committee of elections supervising. She believes that such an organization has not been proved to be efficient."Labour opposes governmental committee to supervise elections", El Khabar, January 15, 2009, internet article. January 17: The GAC Group of Dubai has opened a ship agency in Algeria to exploit the booming gas and oil business there."GAC opens Algeria ship agency", American Shipper, January 16, 2009, internet article. January 18: Al-Qaeda militants in training have been reported to have succumbed to the Black Death, a plague which decimated Europe during the Middle Ages."Report: Plague killing Al-Qaeda terrorists", United Press International, January 19, 2009, internet article. January 21: Fifteen people have died during storms which occurred in Algeria over a 48-hour period. Most of the dead were the victims of traffic accidents. The storms struck both the northern and southern parts of the country. Hundreds of homes in Alouef, Ouargia, and Ghardaya have been damaged."Algeria battered by storms", The Independent, Gambia, January 22, 2009, internet article. January 21: Algeria Telecom has formed a partnership with Iristel under the Algeria Connect brand. With Algeria Connect phone calls can be made from Algerian phones to locations worldwide at the cost of a local call."Algeria Connect forms VOiP partnership with Iristel", Telegeography Comms Update, January 22, 2009, internet article. January 21: Algerian judicial police reported a total of 34,000 crimes committed in the nation during 2008. 23,900 people were involved and 23,729 were taken into custody."34,000 crimes committed during 2008, says judicial police services", El Khabar, January 22, 2009, internet article. January 28: Algeria's foreign ministry admonished the United States for warning of terrorist attacks in Algiers, during a meeting with a senior American diplomat."Algeria Scolds U.S. About Terror Warning", Associated Press, January 27, 2009, internet article. January 28: Bovine tuberculosis is prevalent in Algeria despite the efforts of government authorities to control the disease. The abattoirs of Algiers and Blida were studied between August and November 2007. A total of 7250 animals in all were screened. In 260 of these gross visible granulomatous lesions were found and put into culture. Bacterial isolates were afterward analyzed employing molecular methods."Molecular characterization of Myobacterium bovis strains isolated from cattle slaughtered at two abattoirs in Algeria", BMC Veterinary Research, January 27, 2009, research article. January 28: Andrew Warren, Algeria CIA station chief according to Propaganda Press, is alleged to have raped two Muslim women during his posting in the North African nation. He is supposed to have used a knockout drug to lace the women's drinks prior to the assault, ABC News reported."Andrew Warren, Algeria CIA station chief raping Muslim women", http://www.PropagandaPress.org, January 27, 2009, internet article.
February February 5: Abou Djerra Soltani, head of the Movement of Society for Peace, said that he has no regrets for having once been a candidate of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), during the legislative elections of 1991."I'm for the return of FIS to politics", El Khabar, February 4, 2009, internet article. February 10: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika designated April 9, 2009 as the date for the nation's presidential election. He invited a number of international groups to monitor the elections by sending observers."Algerian president sets April 9 election date", Earth Times, February 9, 2009, internet article. February 10: Growth in Algerian gas exports may disappoint European nations which hope to trim their reliance on imports from Russia. Algeria, the third biggest contributor of gas to the European Union is readying to step up its exports. It will add a pipeline to Spain and increase the capacity of its existing links to both Spain and Italy."Algeria gas export growth may disappoint Europe", The Peninsula (newspaper), February 10, 2009, internet article. February 14: The Algerian state news agency reported that two roadside bombs exploded in eastern Algeria, killing seven people. The first bomb detonated in Foum El-Metlag, close to the country's eastern border with Tunisia. Two police officers and a firefighter died when a second bomb exploded after rescue services arrived. The tragic events took place in the aftermath of President Bouteflika's announcement that he would seek a third term in office."Algerian bombs", Shanghai Daily, February 14, 2009, internet article. February 18: Al-Jazeera aired a recording by members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in which they claim to have kidnapped two Canadian diplomats, one of them a former advisor to Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau. The men were abducted in Niger in December 2008. Salah Abu Mohammed, spokesman for the Algerian/North African group, also claimed responsibility for the capture of four European tourists in January 2009. The four were kidnapped in Mali, and are a British citizen, two Swiss, and a German."Al-Qaida claims it kidnapped two Canadians", Ottawa Sun, February 17, 2009, internet article. February 18: The Algerian Office of Childhood Protection and Minors' Crimes revealed that up to 1414 children in the country suffered sexual abuse in 2008. This included 762 female children and 652 male children."Sexual abuses phenomenon hits alarming level in 2008 in Algeria", El Khabar, February 17, 2008, internet article. February 25: Nigeria and Algeria began talks in Abuja about completing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement would implement the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline, which will transport gas from Nigeria to be delivered to Mediterranean and European gas markets. The gas line will also pass through Niger and Algeria."Nigeria: Partnership With Algeria to Commit Swelves to $12 Billion Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline Project", http://www.allAfrica.com, February 24, 2009, internet article. February 25: A patrol associated with the Malian National Gendarmerie seized a sizable cache of arms and munitions intended to be delivered to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The arms load included a large number of machine guns and ammunition, launchers, mortars, and anti-tank missiles. The weapons were in transit from Guinea and were taken by authorities in Bamako, Mali. It is assumed that the cache was financed by the kidnapping and ransom of two Austrian tourists, who were later freed in November 2008. The Austrian government denies having paid for their ransom."Mali army seizes an arsenal in its way to Algeria", El Khabar, February 24, 2009, internet article. February 25: Morocco expresses a willingness to discuss reopening its border with Algeria, which has been closed for fifteen years. It will also entertain talks concerning fighting terrorism, drug smuggling, and illegal immigration."International", El Khabar, February 24, 2009, internet article. February 27: Members of Algeria's North African wing claim to have killed nine security guards near an Algerian power facility close to Jijel, approximately 215 miles east of Algiers. The attack was carried out using bombs and mortars. The guards were employed by Sonelgaz, and they were working on an electricity dam."Al-Qaida offshoot claims Algeria attacks", PR-inside.com, February 26, 2009, internet article.
March March 3: Algerian state radio says that members of the Algerian military killed sixteen militants aligned to Al-Qaeda during the past weekend. The raid began on Friday near Blida, beginning with a tip from a terror support cell which was penetrated a week before. The government has killed one hundred and twenty members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the past six months."Troops kill 16 al-Qaida militants in Algeria", Hindustan Times, March 3, 2009, internet article.