The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (Al Jaza'ir in the local format) is found in North Africa bordering Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali and Mauritania. The country has an extensive coastline along the Mediterranean. Algeria is the largest country by area on the African continent, but the eighth largest by population with 40.4 million people. Algeria was a French colony that gained independence in 1962. The majority of its population practice Sunni Islam. Much of its economy is based in hydrocarbons and it is the world’s sixth largest gas exporter.   The seat of government is located in the capital city, Algiers, and is led by a national President elected to a five year term. The legislative branch is made up of two houses, the lower People’s National Assembly and the upper Council of the Nation.

A member of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners, Algeria’s connection with the OSCE dates back to the Helsinki Final Act of 1975.  The Act recognized the close relationship between European security and Mediterranean security, and in 1994 a contact group was formed to formally involve the southern Mediterranean countries with the OSCE.  Since that time, Algeria’s collaboration with the OSCE has grown. It has participated in the multitude of OSCE workshops and conferences aimed at the Mediterranean partners on topics such as combating terrorism, the role of armed forces in democratic societies and sustainable energy.  Algeria participated in the 2013 Seminar on Enhancing Co-operation to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region, which was of particular relevance given the large number of Algerian citizens trafficked in Europe.  Algeria actively participates in the opportunities available to it as an OSCE partner and 5 Algerians have attended the OSCE Border Management Staff College.  In 2004 the OSCE Assembly sent a special delegation consisting of three senior members to observe the presidential election in Algeria. Pending donor support, the OSCE and Algeria plan to organize a two-week training on combating drug trafficking for twelve Algerian Law Enforcement officers.