Algeria:

Officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is the second largest country on the African continent. It is bordered by Tunisia in the northeast, Libya in the east, Niger in the southeast, Mali and Mauritania in the southwest, and Morocco as well as a few kilometers of the Western Sahara in the west.

Algeria is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, and Opec. It also contributed towards the creation of the Arab Maghreb Union. Constitutionally, Algeria is defined as an Islamic, Arab, and Amazigh (Berber) country

Geography

Most of the coastal area is hilly, sometimes even mountainous, and there are a few natural harbors. The area just south of the coast, known as the Tell Atlas, is fertile. Further south is the Atlas mountain range and the Sahara desert. The Ahaggar Mountains (Arabic: جبال هقار‎), also known as the Hoggar, are a highland region in central Sahara, southern Algeria. They are located about 1,500 km (932 miles) south of the capital, Algiers and just west of Tamanghasset.

Algiers, Oran and Constantine are the main cities.

Climate and hydrology

Northern Algeria is in the temperate zone and has a mild, mediterranean climate. It lies within approximately the same latitudes as southern California and has somewhat similar climatic conditions. Its broken topography, however, provides sharp local contrasts in both prevailing temperatures and incidence of rainfall. Year-to-year variations in climatic conditions are also common.

In the Tell Atlas, temperatures in summer average between 21 and 24 °C and in winter drop to 10 to 12 °C. Winters are not particularly cold, but the humidity level is high. Houses seldom have access to adequate heating[citation needed]. In eastern Algeria, the average temperatures are somewhat lower, and on the steppes of the High Plateaux, winter temperatures hover only a few degrees above freezing. A prominent feature of the climate in this region is the sirocco, a dusty, choking south wind blowing off the desert, sometimes at gale force. This wind also occasionally reaches into the coastal Tell

Political:

The head of state is the President of the Republic, who is elected to a 5-year term, renewable once. Algeria has universal suffrage at age 18. The President is the head of the Council of Ministers and of the High Security Council. He appoints the Prime Minister who is also the head of government. The Prime Minister appoints the Council of Ministers.

The Algerian parliament is bicameral, consisting of a lower chamber, the National People's Assembly (APN), with 380 members; and an upper chamber, the Council Of Nation, with 144 members. The APN is elected every 5 years.

Overview on Algerian Economy:

Algeria is seeking major investment from international sources to restructure its economy which remains oil based despite attempts to diversify. In a recent announcement made during a visit to the USA in early November, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stated that his country needs to attract between $8 billion to $10 billion inward investment annually for sustained economic development. The government is increasing public spending in order to stimulate investment.

The President also suggested a target of 7 percent annual economic growth over the next decade to enable the Algerian economy to acquire firm foundations. A major challenge is the high rate of unemployment which currently stands at nearly 30 percent and disproportionately affecting the country's youth. The government is giving priority to measures designed at sustainable job creation with the key to which is growth driven by investment.