Algeria: Introduction

Algeria is a country located in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered the gateway between Africa and Europe. Neighboring countries include Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Algeria is primarily a desert, with a few mountains and a narrow coastal plain. The government system is a republic; the chief of state and head of government is the president. Algeria has a mixed economic system that includes a variety of private freedoms, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Algeria is a member of the League of Arab States (Arab League).