Tragic events unsettle reconciliation in Algeria, reports Faysal Saouli Two terror bombings struck Algeria on 6 and 8 September, undermining efforts to restore stability and security in the country and posing questions about President Abdul-Aziz Bouteflika's policies. Since he came to power in 1999, Bouteflika made a personal crusade out of national reconciliation, going as far as offering amnesty to repentant terrorists. This time, he was the target. A suicide bomber blew himself up among crowds waiting to receive Bouteflika at Batna, his last stop in a tour of eastern Algeria. Al-Qaeda in the Countries of the Islamic Maghreb claimed the bombing, confirming that the attacker aimed to kill the president. The attacker blew himself up 10 minutes before the president arrived when he was spotted by the police, killing 22 and wounding 107. President Bouteflika narrowly escaped a fate similar to that of President Mohamed Boudiaf, assassinated in 1992 while delivering a speech at the Ennaba governorate in eastern Morocco. Barely 72 hours after the failed attempt on Bouteflika's life, another suicide bombing struck coastguard barracks in Dalas in central Algeria, where a truck loaded with explosives blew up, killing 35 and wounding 60. The two attacks stirred up much debate on the Algerian political scene. For the first time since he took office, Bouteflika reacted instantly to a terrorist attack, something he didn't do in the past, not even after the attacks on government headquarters and a police station in Algiers on 11 April. Bouteflika spoke live on television from Batna, vowing to press on with the national reconciliation effort. The door would remain open for terrorists to repent, the president said, adding that he wouldn't let anything blunt his effort to bring peace to the country. At least some analysts believe that the president was referring to certain people working behind the scenes in the Algerian regime, which is known for its diffusion of power. Those people may have resorted to terrorist attacks to make Bouteflika look like a failure, or get him out of the way. Bouteflika's programme for national reconciliation doesn't have the unanimous support of army commanders. Analysts now speak of a hidden conflict between the various wings in the Algerian regime. Some want Bouteflika out because of his breach of the deal that brought him to power in 1999. Others want him to go on for a third term, although the current constitution allows presidents a maximum of two five- year terms. Bouteflika wants to stay on and is willing to change the constitution to do so. His doggedness has frayed nerves within the Algerian regime. It is hard, however, to speak with authority on what goes on in the maze of Algerian politics. Even the foreign press now follows the Algerian tradition of referring to "circles" of power instead of naming names. Bouteflika's references to foreigners were tantalising to say the least. "Now such incidents are being carried out for the benefit of foreign sources, for the benefit of foreign capitals, for the benefit of foreign leaders, and in infringement of the Algerian people and sovereignty," he said. What exactly did he mean? We have no official clarification of those words so far, although parliamentary speaker Abdul-Aziz Ziari said that the masterminds of the bombings were non-Algerians. The accusations can be understood in one of two ways. Either the president was referring to Al-Qaeda and meant that the attacks were planned abroad and perhaps received logistical support from non-Algerians. Or he was trying to deflect attention from local tensions. By attacking non- Algerians, the president was implicitly exonerating local rivals from involvement in the attack. The attacks are not likely to continue for a few months to come, some analysts say. The Salafi Group has been hit hard by the president's national reconciliation quest, and this, goes the argument, is its way of getting back. Some of the group's members have walked away, and some have been arrested or killed due to information supplied by repentant members. Since its affiliation with Al-Qaeda, announced on 24 January 2007, the Salafi Group has been recruiting among jobless young, an easy prey for suicide mission. Would-be attackers, say the police, are supplied with bombs operating on a dual detonation system. Should the attacker change his mind halfway through the operation, his operatives can trigger the bomb instead. This year turned out to be bloodier than Bouteflika had counted on. So far, 104 died and 370 were killed in terror attacks.
