Why Algerian Elections Have Implications Beyond Its Borders.

By Fidel Amakye Owusu

1. In the early 1990s amidst the dying down of Cold War politics, Algeria organized legislative elections that had Islamists dominating the first round.

2. This was after they also swept local elections a year earlier. Less than a month later, and five days before a second round of the polls, the military cancelled the process and forced the then-president to step down.

3. The situation that had complex underlying factors led to one of the bloodiest civil wars in Africa. The conflict effectively lasted for a decade with several negotiation attempts failing before a final deal was reached.

4. Unfortunately, even when peace was reached in the early 2000s, the Algerian Civil War left a disturbing legacy which is still bedevilling states beyond the borders of Algeria.

5. How?

6. When the Civil War formally ended in the country, not all of the rebels accepted the terms peace agreement. Some radicals among the rebels rejected the deal and moved southward. This group later pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda.

7. It later became known as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). A decade later, the group, together with Tuareg radicals swept across northern and central Mali and established an “Islamic state” in the Sahel (before al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate two years later in Mosul, Iraq).

8. Currently, AQIM is one of the most lethal of the federation of Al-Qaeda affiliates currently known as the JNIM. The group is terrorising the Sahel and coastal states in West Africa. Its actions have contributed to political instability and unhealthy great power competition in the region.

9. And so, what?

10. Last week, the North African country conducted a presidential election that has been dented by accusations from both the ruling government and the opposition. Yes, even though the ruling president has been declared the winner, he still has issues with the counting of votes.

11. While the electoral authority declared 94. 65 per cent of the votes for the president, it was “unable” to declare the total turnout. A leader of a moderate Islamist party denounced the results as “fraud”.

12. No, there are no perfect elections anywhere; however, for the experience Algeria has had over the decades, organizing free and fair elections should be a priority. More importantly, history tells us that not doing so could have far-reaching consequences across time and space in the continent.

13. Algeria is the largest country in Africa in terms of land size, and one of the major economies. It also has a relatively modern military and good relations with both the East and West of the global divide. It is a natural leader that must get its act together.