A bloody eight-year struggle culminated in Algerian independence in 1962. In September 2017 Algerian National Front party leader Moussa Touati stated that his party paid bribes in order to secure its single seat in parliament. 1902-12-24: Parts of the military territories - the cercles marked with an asterisk (*) above, with minor The law defines defamation as any allegation or imputation of a fact offending the honor or consideration of a person, or of the body to which the fact is imputed. The law does not require that the fact alleged or imputed be false or that the statement be made with malicious intent to damage another individuals reputation. 1983-12-15: Thirty-one departments re-organized to form 48 provinces (as shown in the first table). Foreign observers characterized the 2017 legislative elections as largely well organized and conducted without significant problems on election day, but noted a lack of transparency in vote-counting procedures. Postal codes: Algeria uses five-digit postal codes. Sept. 29: The Algerian Defense Ministry said the Algerian army killed five armed Islamist militants and seized weapons, munitions and food supplies during a sweep of the forests of Tazoult in the Batna province. The Algerian League for Human Rights, a separate but licensed organization based in Constantine, had members throughout the country monitoring individual cases. Subsequent reforms to the national electoral law introduced open list voting to curb corruption. The Ministry of National Solidarity, Family, and the Status of Women provided some financial support to health-care-oriented NGOs, but for many NGOs, such financial support represented a small fraction of their budgets. provinces, with external capitals Alger, Constantine, and Oran. Algeria has known many empires and dynasties starting with the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C. NGOs reported that judges gave harsher sentences to LGBTI persons. Citing the threat of terrorism, the government also prevented overland tourist travel between the southern cities of Tamanrasset, Djanet, and Illizi. The law also stipulates penalties that include imprisonment of two months to two years and fines of DZD 500 to DZD 2,000 ($4.25 to $17) for anyone convicted of having committed a homosexual act. If a minor is involved, the adult may face up to three years imprisonment and a fine of DZD 10,000 ($85). The ILO tried to visit during the year but had to cancel the visit when the government was unable to guarantee that they would be able to meet with independent trade unions. NGOs reported instances in which unaccompanied migrant female youth were exploited as domestic workers and were known to be loaned out to families for extended periods to work in homes or exploited as prostitutes. departments and one territory. ), fossil fuels: 98.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est. An Defla split from Chlef; An Tmouchent split from Sidi Bel Abbs; Bordj Bou Arrridj split from Stif; There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. The Ministry of Religious Affairs did the same for all religious publications. In July, Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) and 15 representatives from other NGOs gathered at a hotel in Oran to discuss migration. Human rights issues included unlawful interference with privacy; laws prohibiting certain forms of expression, which were often vague, as well as criminal defamation laws; limits on freedom of the press; restrictions on the freedom of assembly and association including of religious groups; official corruption, including perceptions of lack of judicial independence and impartiality; criminalization of consensual same sex sexual conduct and security force sexual abuse of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and trafficking in persons. The French southward conquest of the entirety of Algeria proceeded throughout the 19th century and was marked by many atrocities. Security forces routinely detained individuals who participated in unauthorized protests. ), improved: urban: 98.3% of populationrural: 91.3% of populationtotal: 96.5% of populationunimproved: urban: 1.7% of populationrural: 8.7% of populationtotal: 3.5% of population (2020 est. )note: data are in 2017 dollars, 3.5% (2021 est. Since 2015, the government has imposed additional restrictions on access to foreign exchange for imports, and import quotas for specific products, such as cars. Labor standards do not protect economic migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere working in the country without legal immigration status, which made them vulnerable to exploitation. There were several strikes launched in reaction to the governments refusal to extend official recognition to fledgling new unions and its practice of engaging only with the UGTA. As a result, Algeria was divided into three Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Ahmadi Muslims, Shia Muslims, Ibadi Muslims) <1% (2012 est.). From March 18 until April 8, the ministrys Labor Inspector Service conducted inspections into child labor of 9,748 businessdown from 11,575 businesses the previous year. The Ministry authorized the import of only 350 copies ofJeune Afriquefor delivery to various institutions. )agricultural: 6.671 billion cubic meters (2017 est. Section 1. The government took steps to investigate, prosecute, or punish public officials who committed violations. 1974-06: Fifteen departments reorganized to form thirty-one. During the year the ICRC hosted training sessions on human rights standards related to arrest, detention, and interrogation procedures for judicial police from the DGSN and National Gendarmerie, as well as for judges. Since the subdivision The CNDH has budget autonomy and the constitutional responsibility to investigate alleged human rights abuses, officially comment on laws proposed by the government, and publish an annual report. The law established a national council to address childrens issues, gives judges authority to remove children from an abusive home, and allows sexually abused children to provide testimony on video rather than in court. Algeria became independent in 1962. Local elections took place in November 2021. The constitution provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, but the government restricted the exercise of this right. departments of France. )forest: 0.8% (2018 est. These observers, among others, pointed to the law as a significant source of arbitrary arrests intended to suppress political activism. )biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est. In September a group of military veterans organized a protest in Algiers, prompting a crackdown by authorities. Opposition parties also disseminated information via the internet and published communiques but stated they did not have access to the national television and radio. Twelve new arrondissements created, making a total of 32. Alger: Algeri (Italian); Algiers (English); Algier (Danish, German); al-Jazair, al-Djazair, El Djazar (Arabic); the same name, with a status nominally equal to the departments of European France. ), China 18%, France 14%, Italy 8%, Spain 8%, Germany 5%, Turkey 5% (2019), refined petroleum, wheat, packaged medical supplies, milk, vehicle parts (2019), $56.211 billion (31 December 2021 est. In February the Ministry for National Solidarity, Family, and Women and UN Women launched an administrative database, named AMANE, to collect information on violence against women. )municipal solid waste recycled annually: 990,299 tons (2013 est. The UN LOCODE page for Algeria lists locations in the country, some of them with their latitudes and longitudes, some with their ISO 3166-2 codes for their subdivisions. By law workers may strike only after 14 days of mandatory conciliation or mediation. The Ministry of National Solidarity, Family, and Women said 60 percent of the recipients of government microcredit loans for small businesses were women. During the year, the government deported migrants to Mali. Detainees Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: The Code of Criminal Procedure grants the right to appeal a courts order of pretrial detention. According to AP reports, some migrants died during the 20-kilometer desert march. The resulting division was as shown below. Prosecutors may apply to a judge to extend the period before arrested individuals can have access to an attorney. According to statistics from womens advocacy groups published in the local press, between 100 and 200 women died each year from domestic violence. The law criminalizes statements denigrating Islam or insulting the Prophet Muhammed or messengers of God. In 2016 police in Setif arrested Slimane Bouhafs, a Christian convert, for posting statements on his Facebook page questioning the morals of the Prophet Muhammed. The government said that it closed 11 facilities and opened one new facility to improve prison conditions in the last year but argued that they have alleviated overcrowding by increasing the use of minimum-security centers that permit prisoners to work and by using electronic monitoring. The countrys Jewish population numbered fewer than 200 persons. Authorities arrested Fekhar in 2015 and held him for 22 months without a trial. The borders, except near the Mediterranean coast, Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did participate. Penalties for violations of the rights of union members range from fines of DZD 10,000-50,000 ($85-$425) for first offenses or DZD 50,000-100,000 ($425-$850) and 30 days-six months in prison for repeat offenses. The decision was in response to previous leaks of exam materials, which were posted on social media. Presidential term limits, which were eliminated in 2008, were reintroduced in the 2016 revision of the constitution and limit the president to two five-year terms. The Algerian Red Crescent, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Solidarity, maintained welcome facilities that provided food and shelter for those Syrians without means to support themselves. The average woman's age at first marriage increased from about 19 in the mid-1950s to 24 in the mid-1970s to 30.5 in the late 1990s. See the Department of StatesTrafficking in Persons Reportatwww.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/. Algeria is divided into 48 wilayat (provinces; sing. See the Department of StatesAnnual Report on International Parental Child Abductionathttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data.html. With lower oil prices since 2014, Algerias foreign exchange reserves have declined by more than half and its oil stabilization fund has decreased from about $20 billion at the end of 2013 to about $7 billion in 2017, which is the statutory minimum. In most cases, the NGOs continued to hold their meetings and police came to the hotels to end the gatherings. names. )$24.902 billion (2020 est. Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight (official); dialects include Kabyle Berber (Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)major-language sample(s): (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. )beer: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. Jeune Afriqueonline remained available. SNAPAP and other independent unions faced government interference throughout the year, including official obstruction of general assembly meetings and police harassment during sit-in protests. Sub-Saharan African migrants came to Algeria after its civil war to work in agriculture and mining. For example, the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA), which represented a majority of public-sector workers, is an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation. Opposition party leaders complained that the government did not provide timely authorizations to hold rallies or party congresses. Exploiters of child labor used methods allegedly learned via the internet to increase their mistreatment of children. Womens groups reported that the majority of reported cases of harassment occurred in the workplace. )spirits: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. [6] The Statesman's Year-Book 1981-82. The law also bans political party ties to nonpolitical associations and regulates party financing and reporting requirements. The law protects union members from discrimination or dismissal based on their union activities. ), general assessment: Algeria has a steadily developing telecom infrastructure with growth encouraged by supportive regulatory measures and by government policies aimed at delivering serviceable internet connections across the country; mobile broadband is largely based on 3G and LTE, and the data rates are also low in global terms; LTE is available in all provinces, investment is required from the mobile network operators (MNOs) to improve the quality of service; the state has previously been hesitant to commit to 5G, instead encouraging the MNOs to undertake upgrades to LTE infrastructure before investing in commercial 5G services; in March 2022, the state is in the process of freeing up the requisite spectrum to enable the MNOs to launch 5G services sometime this year; fixed internet speeds remain slow (2022)domestic: a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of slightly less than 11 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was approximately 104 telephones per 100 persons in 2020 (2020)international: country code - 213;ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca;ORVAL is a submarine cable to Spain; landing points for the TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/SeaMeWe-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France;microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia;Algeria part of the 4,500 Km terrestrial Trans Sahara Backbone network which connects to other fiber networks in the region; Alcomstat-1 satellite offering telemedicine network (2020)note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services, state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations, total: 27,626,157 (2020 est. Over the past three years, the government has enacted incremental increases in some taxes, resulting in modest increases in prices for gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, and certain imported goods, but it has refrained from reducing subsidies, particularly for education, healthcare, and housing programs. Algeria since December 18, 2019, is divided into 58 wilayas ().Prior to December 18, 2019, there were 48 provinces. The 58 provinces are divided into 1541 baladiyahs (municipalities).The capital city of a baladiyah, dara, or province, always gives those entities their name, even Algiers, the capital of the country gave it its name (El Djazayar, the Arabic name for both the city and the country). According to statistics provided in September, the Ministry of Justices General Directorate for Prison Administration and Resettlement (DGAPR) had responsibility for approximately 63,000 prisoners. His sentence was subsequently reduced to three years in prison, and he was released in April. and Guelma. You can add more than one country or area. Certain parts of the military territory were While the government tolerated their operations in the past, the Ministry of Communication said in 2016 it would limit the number of private satellite channels to 13 and foreign-based unaccredited television outlets would be shut down. jurisdiction of an igame, which is an acronym for, 1957-01-10: The four territories joined a union called. The Ministry of Interior reported in March to a Senate session that approximately 500 illegal migrants try to enter the country daily along the countrys southern borders. )$71.796 billion (31 December 2019 est. They were The law provides for sentences of one to 20 years imprisonment for domestic violence and six months to two years incarceration for men who withhold property or financial resources from their spouses. The government devoted increasing resources and attention to it. Office of the U.S. )12.55% (2020 est. The standard workweek was 40 hours, including one hour for lunch per day. change, in 1984, the new subdivisions were called wilayas. Most major opposition parties lost seats in the elections, and several parties claimed the results were significantly altered by fraud. Women may seek divorce for irreconcilable differences and violation of a prenuptial agreement. )126.777 (2020 est. There were five or six subdivisions. which in turn were subdivided into communes. ), total dependency ratio: 58.5youth dependency ratio: 48.7elderly dependency ratio: 9.8potential support ratio: 10.2 (2021 est. Algeria has not increased non-hydrocarbon exports, and hydrocarbon exports have declined because of field depletion and increased domestic demand. The constitution provides for the right to a fair trial, but authorities did not always respect legal provisions that protect defendants rights. NGOs reported that the government did not enforce payment of fines for failing to abide by the law. The law provides sentences of six months to five years in prison and fines between DZD 50,000 and DZD 500,000 ($425 and $4,252) for users who do not comply with the law, including the obligation to cooperate with law enforcement authorities against cybercrime. The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Security forces conducted unannounced home visits. The government maintained two regional womens shelters and was building three additional shelters. President of the Constitutional Council Mourad Medelci announced voter participation in the elections was just under 51 percent, a sharp drop from the slightly more than 74 percent turnout during the previous presidential election in 2009. The first two digits are the same as the two-digit ISO The government used specific facilities for prisoners age 27 and younger. The law on cybercrime establishes procedures for using electronic data in prosecutions and outlines the responsibilities of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to cooperate with authorities. UNHCR offices in Algiers reported an estimated 200 to 300 asylum requests per month, mostly from Syrian, Palestinian, and sub-Saharan African individuals coming from Mali, Guinea, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The law additionally prohibits local periodicals from receiving direct or indirect material support from foreign sources. The government allowed international observation of the elections but did not permit local civil society organizations to do the same. This movement accelerated during World War I, when Algerians filled in for French factory workers or served as soldiers. Provinces, Dpartements, Rgions. Algeria covers an area of 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), making it the world's tenth largest nation by area, and the largest nation in Africa. With a population of 44 million, Algeria is the ninth-most populous country in Africa, and the 32nd-most populous country in the world. )arable land: 3.2% (2018 est. Activists reported that some postings on social media could result in arrest and questioning; observers widely understood that the intelligence services closely monitored the activities of political and human rights activists on social media sites, including Facebook. ), conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeriaconventional short form: Algerialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyahlocal short form: Al Jaza'iretymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers, name: Algiersgeographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)etymology: name derives from the Arabic "al-Jazair" meaning "the islands" and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast but joined to the mainland since 1525, 58 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Beni Abbes, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Meghaier, El Meniaa, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, In Guezzam, In Salah, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Ouled Djellal, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen, Touggourt, Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954), history: several previous; latest approved by referendum November 2020amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens liberties and rights cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2008, 2016; last in 2020, mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices, has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt, citizenship by birth: nocitizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeriadual citizenship recognized: noresidency requirement for naturalization: 7 years, chief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019)head of government: Prime Minister Ayman BENABDERRAHMANE (since 7 July 2021), description: bicameral Parliament or Barlaman consists of:Council of the Nation or Majlis al-Umma (174 seats; two-thirds of members indirectly elected by simple majority vote by an electoral college composed of local assemblies within each wilaya, and one-third of members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)National People's Assembly or al-Majlis al-Sha'abi al-Watani (407 seats including 8 seats for Algerian diaspora); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - in March 2021, President TEBBOUNE ordered the number of Assembly seats be reduced to 407 from 462elections: Council of the Nation - last held on 5 February 2022 (next election NA)National People's Assembly - snap election held on 12 June 2021 (next to be held on 12 June 2026)election results: Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 54, RND 22, Future Front 7, National Construction Movement 5, FFS 4, other 6, independent 18, appointed 58; composition - NANational People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 98, MSP 65, RND 58, (Future Front) 48, Movement of National Construction 39, other 15, independent 84; composition - men 374, women 33, percent of women 8.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 7.3%, highest court(s): Supreme Court or Le Cour Suprme, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime, Criminal, House of Offenses and Contraventions, House of Petitions, Land, Personal Status, and Social; Constitutional Council (consists of 12 members including the court chairman and deputy chairman); note - Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courtsjudge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 yearssubordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals, Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]Algerian Popular Movement or MPA [Amara BENYOUNES]Algerian Rally or RA [Ali ZAGHDOUD]Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ [Fatma Zohra ZEROUATI]Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Fethi GHARES]Dignity or El Karama [Mohamed DAOUI]El-Bina (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani) [Abdelkader BENGRINA]El-Islah [Filali GHOUINI]Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED [Badreddine BELBAZ]Front for Justice and Development or El Adala [Abdallah DJABALLAH]Future Front or El Mostakbel [Abdelaziz BELAID]Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement [Mohamed DOUIBI]Justice and Development Front or FJD [Abdellah DJABALLAH]Movement for National Reform or Islah [Filali GHOUINI]Movement of Society for Peace or MSP [Abderrazak MAKRI]National Construction Movement (Harakat Al-bina' Al-watanii) [Abdelkader BENGRINA]National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Tayeb ZITOUNI]National Front for Social Justice or FNJS [Khaled BOUNEDJEMA]National Liberation Front or FLN [Abou El Fadhel BAADJI]National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD [Dalila YALAQUI]National Reform Movement or Islah [Djahid YOUNSI]National Republican Alliance or ANR [Belkacem SAHLI]New Dawn Party (El-Fajr El-Jadid) [Tahar BENBAIBECHE]New Generation (Jil Jadid) [Soufiane DJILALI]Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 [Ali Fawzi REBAINE]Party of Justice and Liberty or PLJ [Djamel Ben ZIADI]Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Mohcine BELABBAS]Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Youcef AOUCHICHE]Union for Change and Progress or UCP [Zoubida ASSOUL]Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS [Noureddine BAHBOUH]Vanguard of Liberties (Talaie El Hurriyet) [Abdelkader SAADI]Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]Youth Party or PJ [Hamana BOUCHARMA]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997, ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed BOUTACHE (since 26 October 2021)chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800FAX: [1] (202) 986-5906email address and website: mail@algerianembassy.orghttps://www.algerianembassy.org/consulate(s) general: New York, chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Moore AUBIN (since 9 February 2022)embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030, Algermailing address: 6030 Algiers Place, Washington DC 20521-6030telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2299email address and website: ACSAlgiers@state.govhttps://dz.usembassy.gov/, two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness, five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red, name: "Kassaman" (We Pledge)lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZInote: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces, total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)selected World Heritage Site locales: Beni Hammad Fort (c); Djmila (c); Casbah of Algiers (c); M'zab Valley (c); Tassili n'Ajjer (m); Timgad (c); Tipasa (c).