Algeria
Article
May 19, 2022
Algeria (Arabic: الجزائر [al-Jazāʼir] - "islands"), or officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (Arabic: الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية, berb. ⵟⴰⴳⴷⵓⴷⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴻⴳⴷⴰⵢⵜ ⵜⴰⵖⴻⵔⴼⴰⵏⵜ ⵜⴰⵣⵣⴰⵢⵔⵉⵜ), is a land in northern Africa. More than four-fifths of its territory is covered by the Sahara in the south. Near the northern coast are the Atlas Mountains, which stretch from east to west in parallel chains. In most of Algeria, agriculture is quite underdeveloped, but that is why this country is one of the richest in natural gas and oil. Most oil-based products are exported, followed by fruits and vegetables. Algeria is the largest country in Africa with an area of over 2 million square kilometers. Algeria is a medium-sized regional power. This North African country supplies Europe with large quantities of natural gas, and energy exports are the basis of its economy. According to OPEC data, Algeria has the 16th largest oil reserves in the world and is the second largest in Africa. This country has the 9th largest natural gas reserves. Sonatrach, the oil company, is the largest company in Africa. Algeria has one of the largest armies in Africa and the largest defense budget on the continent. Most of Algeria's weapons are imported from Russia, with which they are close allies. Algeria is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, OPEC, the United Nations and a founding member of the Arab Maghreb Union.