History, 21st-Century Algeria

At the start of the 21st century, human rights and democracy had not made substantial progress in Algeria. In April 2001 a Kabyle Berber young man was killed while being questioned by local authorities. This led to widespread protests in Kabylia, and to further Berber and Arab protests that spread to other parts of the country. On the other hand, in the same period Bouteflika attempted to polish Algeria’s tarnished international image. He worked to strengthen Algeria’s relationship with the United States and the European Union, particularly with France, and invited foreign investment into the expanding hydrocarbon sector.