Regrettably, Islamic extremists, having a penchant for kidnapping and murder, are effectively foiling plans of foreign investors.
The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce does not allude to the dangers of doing business within Algeria. It has extensive information and assistance available to U.S. investors interested in collaborating with Algeria, including strict policies on imports/exports. The department identifies the pros and cons of Algerian business ventures, and points out that patience and long-term commitments will gain success.
Dangers of Foreign Investment in Algeria
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Algeria has the projected growth of 4.6 percent GDP over the course of 2010. In spite of the optimism for a positive economic surge, the press release on July 22, 2010 by Maplecroft, the risk intelligence and rating company, announced a new report on the risks and dangers of foreign investment in Algeria.
Maplecroft’s in-depth report stresses urgency as to the increase of kidnappings and attacks on foreign investors by Islamic militants, the most notorious and dangerous of which is al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The report also emphasizes the deliberate imperil and desertion of compliance in regards to human rights by Algerian Security Forces. Accordingly, the Algerian government claims “that security forces killed, injured or arrested an estimated 1,300 suspected terrorists in 2009.” Last year, “the total number of deaths as a result of terrorism-related conflict amounted to 804.” Such a loss of suspect militants should have impaired an Islamic terrorist operation somewhat.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Obviously, new evidence makes it painfully clear, that AQIM, subsidiary of al-Qaeda, is unwavering in its determination to destabilize, demoralize and destroy its enemies. The tragic news on Monday, July 26, 2010 by Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network unequivocally brings this fact home, when reported that “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb says it killed French hostage”:
“In an audio message broadcast Sunday, a man identified as the leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Abdelmalek Droukdel, said Michel Germaneau was killed in retaliation for the death of six al-Qaeda members during the raid conducted last week in Mali by Mauritanian troops backed by French Special Forces.”
Algerian Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)
Whatever measures taken to combat terrorism by AQIM honed on Algeria is seemingly ineffective. The immediate, as well as future, security and safety of Westerners remains doubtful. It begs to question the rationale of the U.S. – Algerian Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) on April 7, 2010, signed by U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, who visited Algeria for this purpose, and Mr. Tayeb Belaiz, the Algerian Minister of Justice. Mr. Holder aptly made this remark:
“This treaty establishes a comprehensive framework for obtaining evidence in criminal cases. The proliferation of crime across national borders makes it essential that we develop tools for international cooperation in bringing to justice those criminals – including terrorists – who threaten our safety and security. This treaty will help us to achieve our common goal of ensuring that justice is done and that no criminal benefits by hiding evidence beyond our borders.”
However, it is unclear as to how strong the measures taken to “obtain said evidence” will be, considering the undeniable statistics by Maplecroft, the fear of terrorism controls the apathy toward basic humanity and snuffs the regard for human rights. It seems a no-win situation, and a matter of time, before indifference to proof will bring violence to a traumatic head. Repercussion may be immeasurable.
Comparatively, as ruthless and deadly Sri Lanka’s LTTE was, al-Qaeda and AQIM have the world by its ear. The war on terror seemingly takes baby steps to defeat insurgency, yet hurdles are abounding, with no end in sight, while the lives of military and civilians hang in the balance from Afghanistan and Iraq to the great continent of Africa. A state of affairs far from hopeful or promising.
Heike Winnig - Ms. Winnig is German, born in Bad Kreuznach, Rheinlandpfalz, Deutschland, and has lived in the United States since she was a child. ...
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