Algeria

Active conflict. Secular Arab government against radical Islam. Oil/gas interests involved.

A conflict between the secular government/military and religious forces.

Algeria, once Ottoman, was invaded in 1840 by France, which imposed European, secular culture on Algeria. In the 1950s-60s the independence movement and violent war against France was dominated by secular, socialist Algerians. Independence came in 1962, followed by a series of coups and military rule.

In the 1980s, political Islamism grew as an anti-secular, anti-corruption movement,  winning a national election in 1990. This was annulled by the government, thus weakening the position of the moderate Muslim opposition and stimulating violent extremist groups.

This is a battle between privileged, minority governing secularists (supported by oil/gas wealth) and majority, rural-based Islamists over the definition of society, politics and the state. Some al Qaeda involvement. No resolution in sight.

Original 1950s-60s conflict, 1m dead.
Current conflict 1990s-2000s, 80,000 deaths.
No international mediation.


Links:

BBC: Middle East
OneWorld Guides: Algeria
Survivors' Rights: Algeria
Wikipedia: Algerian Civil War