People's
Democratic Republic of Algeria: Facts and
Figures Local Name
Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad
Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah. Total
Area 919,595 sq mi. Population
33,333,216. Capital Algiers. Independence
from France Achieved July 5, 1962.
Chadli
Benjedid served as President
of Algeria from 1979 to 1992. During that
time he tried to steer a compromise
course between the country's Islamic and
non-Islamic populations, but had little
success. He was forced out of office by
an Islamic political junta.