Algeria has not been in such dire straits since it declared independence from France in 1962. The challenges the country faces today make its “bloody decade” during the 1990s, when conflict with the Armed Islamic Group (AIG) killed tens of thousands, seem like a time of stability and prosperity. It is not terrorism that is causing trouble for Algiers this time – at least, not yet. Still, the future is grim, and the trouble starts with the country’s economic woes.
According to the few official figures released, Algeria’s economy is in a worrying state of severe decay. On January 6 this year, the Bank of Algeria published figures that showed the Treasury’s sa...
