Yesterday, Algeria celebrated 40 years of independence — and to mark the event, terrorists exploded a bomb in a crowded market outside the capital, killing 35 people and wounding many more. It was the worst single act of carnage in Algeria this year. Typically, no one has claimed responsibility for this repulsive birthday present although local security experts say that it bears all the hallmarks of bomb attacks over the last nine years blamed on Islamist extremists. If so, it makes the proud declaration of just four days ago by the Algerian Army chief-of-staff — that the war against the extremists had been won — sound humiliatingly hollow.
These innocent Algerians were deliberately blown to eternity for the crude political objective of sowing terror among the populace and letting them know on a day chosen for its symbolism that the militants are back with a vengeance.
Not that too many Algerians imagined they had anything to celebrate yesterday. Even before the outrage, there was little festal atmosphere across the country despite almost frantic efforts by the authorities to rouse enthusiasm. There is a widespread feeling among the population that 40 years on, independence has become a worthless concept. “Independence for what?”, Algerians ask. To be murdered by militants? To be without a job and no hope of one? Around 170,000 people have been killed in the troubles of the past nine years — 1,900 of them last year. Over half-a-million have found themselves jobless as more and more state companies, inefficient and incompetent, close their doors thanks to an economic liberalization which, however, cannot attract new businesses because of the political crisis. Today, most young Algerians have one idea: to get out. The brain drain to France -- and anywhere there is peace and a chance of a decent living — is sapping the lifeblood of the country. It brightest and best do not want to be Algerians; they want to be French, Spanish, Italian, British, German. For them, 40 years of independence means nothing.
It is also so different from 1962, when the new, gas-rich country was feted worldwide as one of the world’s great freedom stories, its epic seven-year struggle for independence from France regarded as being on a par in global historical significance with those of India, the United States and the countries of south and central America. It became the darling, even a leader, of the non-aligned world.
It is difficult to see what the government can do to turn the situation around. It is committed to reform and it wants to pull the country out of its slough of despond; but President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who has tried to initiate compromises is spurned at each turn by the militants, Berbers and other opponents who have nothing in common with each other. They reject him; they reject each other; they boycott elections: the result is public despair and despondency.
It is little wonder the parliamentary elections just a few weeks ago saw the lowest turnout ever. Algerians see only dark clouds ahead. They are living an Arab and Muslim tragedy, and there is no one to help, no way out except emigration. Meanwhile the killing fields grow larger. A sad anniversary, indeed.
