(2009-1295-F) Algeria

The materials in FOIA 2009-1295-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topice of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. The Algerian Civil War of the 1990s, and the accompanying massacres, had it roots in political and economic challenges during the late 1980s. During the presidency of Chadli Benjedid (1979-1992), political and economic relaxation had taken place. In the meantime, dropping infant mortality had resulted in a growing, now politcally enabled, population. When the fall of oil prices in late 1980s caused an economic crisis, many members of this younger generation turned to the Islamist Front Islamique du Salut (FIS). The FIS perfomed very well in the parliamentary elections of January 1992. The FLN hardliners in the Algerian military quickly forced the resignation of Benjedid, banned the FIS, and set up a transitional government. Some FIS activitists viewed the military’s ban of their political party as a declaration of war. Guerilla fighters began attacking security forces. Though the FIS leadership condemned attacks on civilians, they quickly lost control of the party’s more extreme elements. The violence continued to escalate and 2009-1295-F http://www.clintonlibrary.gov 2 now included civilian casualties. By 1993, serveral guerrilla factions had splintered from the FIS. The most notorious of these was the Groupe Islamique Armée (GIA). In 1994, Minister of Defense Lamine Zeroual became President and indicated that he was willing to have a dialogue with the Islamist factions. However, neither Zeroual nor the FIS could control their more extreme supporters, and the dialogue broke down. Violence in Algeria increased as the government and the insurgents launched aggressive attacks against each other. The bloodshed peaked during latter half of 1997 and the beginning of 1998, following the June parliamentary elections. During this period, many massacres, attributed to the GIA, occured against civilians, including women and children. Often, entire villages or families were the targets. A majority of these atrocities occured in the area south of Algiers, earning it the nickname “The Triangle of Death.” The worst of these massacres included: Sidi Rais on August 29 (around 400 deaths), Beni Messous on September 5 and 6 (around 100 deaths), Bentalha on September 22 (around 300 deaths), Relizane on December 30 through January 4 (over 1000 deaths), and Sidi Hamed on January 11 (around 400 deaths). The Relizane and Sidi Hamed massacres took place during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The massacres caught the attention of the international community. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urged the response of the developed world. While the Clinton Administration’s policy remained that the violence was an internal Algerian matter, it expressed sympathy for the victims and urged a solution. American Ambassador to Algeria Cameron Hume made a well-pubicized visit to the site of the Sidi Hamed massacre. The European Union sent two delegations to investigate the atrocities. In addition, the GIA’s actions had become distasteful to many of its supporters. In September 1998 the more extreme elements of the GIA left to form the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). That same month, Zeroual resigned the presidency. His successor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika passed a law by referendum that granted amnesty to many of the guerrilla fighters. Algeria slowly became more stable, despite the continued existance of the GSPC. In 2007, the GSPC formally changed its name to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The majority of the records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons. Records released include White House press materials, National Security Council and State Department press guidance, news summaries, correspondence, and reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These responsive materials are located in the files of Scott Busby in the National Security Council’s Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs Directorate, the Automated Records Management System Emails between September 1997 and January 1998, the National Security Council Cables between August 1997 and February 1998, and the National Security Council Emails between September 1997 and December 1998.