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Having considerable consequences on Algeria and the region, the Algerian crisis since February 2019 has become one of the prominent Arab crises. The Arab Crises Team-ACT hence is allocating this report to research what has happened in the country. The Team looks into the background of the crisis, put forward a descriptive analysis, reasons, regional and international stands and futuristic scenarios. The report then provides recommendations. The movement in Algeria was characterized by a popular movement initially demanding that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika does not stand for another term and that the prime minister be removed from power. This popular movement was distinguished by the fact it included a wide participation from many parties and people resembling the Arab Spring. The movement also sought the support of the military and security establishments and distinguished by its ability to be organized and continue while rejecting any external intervention. This movement succeeded –and with the support of the military– to force president Bouteflika to resign based on the Constitutional Council of the country according to Article 102 of the Constitution. As a result, the Algerian Parliament met on 9 April 2019 and head of the House of Commons Abdelkader Bensaleh was chosen as president of the country pending the holding of elections. Despite the fact that a Dialogue and Mediation Committee was formed and specified the election date on 12 December 2019, Algeria is still facing a situation of instability, lack of vision and debate surrounding the government with the popular movement calling for the resignation of the cabinet as a main condition for the holding of the elections. The present Algerian crisis goes back to the Tripoli Charter of 1962 and which created a complex heritage in the distribution of civilian and military posts inside the politburo of the Algerian Liberation Front. As the new independent Algeria became officially a member of the United Nations in October 1962 this complex distribution became apparent serving as a threat in the long-run on the new state because of the nature of government rule that was taking place. The constitution and the socialist way in managing the state economy in addition to the centralization of the state and the shrinking powers of parliament all led to the concentration of the decision-making process in the hands of the president. The international community kept silent on the ongoing Algerian crisis and did not take any initiative towards solving it. In addition, there was the absence of vision and futuristic expectations of where is the crisis leading to. On the regional level, the Algerian crisis took a more security form especially since the growth of the problems surrounding the country related to border incursions by militant groups from Libya and Mali. Four scenarios can be drawn from this for the future and these include: Political solution agreed by all and ease of transition of authority, the freezing of the crisis and continuation of the present status quo, the deepening of the crisis and escalation with chaos and confrontation, split in the military establishment with its inability to deal with the crisis or manage it. All these are possible options. The Algerian state, politicians and decision-makers are in a critical position and must opt out for all political solutions that would bring all parties together. The ACT team makes the following recommendations: 1) Call on all parties to agree on a political solution to the Algerian crisis as best choice to realize the interests of all; 2) Call on all parties to make sure calm remains and that political, security and social stability persists without violence; 3) develop a framework for national dialogue amongst all parties; 5) Make sure that the issue of external intervention does not arise; and 5) respect the outcomes of election process by all parties.
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