2009 in Algeria - December

December

• December 6: Oil ministers of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) reported that international investment in petroleum has decreased by 20% due to the financial crisis of 2007-2009.

• December 8: Egypt will return its ambassador to Algeria provided that Algeria compensates Egypt for vandalized property, resulting in the aftermath of a soccer game and row which followed it. The Egyptian ambassador was recalled from Algeria in November 2009.

• December 9: A 32-year-old pregnant woman in Oran died of A/H1N1 on December 1, 2009. Including the death of a 26-year-old Setif man, the number of deaths attributable to the virus in Algeria is 10.

• December 9: The Algerian army destroyed 5,700 mines from the pre-Algerian independence era, in November 2009. The mines, most of them raised by the French army, were part of a demining program, which continues 47 years after Algerian independence. As of November 30, 2009, 426,599 mines, 358,515 antipersonnel mines, 65,873 anti-group mines, and 2,211 illuminating mines had been eliminated in the operation.

• December 9: Three Spanish humanitarians have been detained by members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The kidnapping occurred on November 29 while they were in Mauritania. In a separate excursion the forces of AQIM took prisoner a Frenchman, Pierre Camatte, in Mali on November 25.

• December 10: High-ranking officials, acting on the advice of intelligence services, are encouraging the United Nations Security Council to adopt an Algerian proposal to limit the payment of ransom to terrorist groups.

• December 22: Despite having a large group of women participating in the health-care, justice, and educational fields, the number of females holding parliamentary seats has declined from 35 in 1962 to 30 in 2007. Political and legal experts convened in Algiers on December 20 to increase awareness among Algerians about women's role in politics and their relationship to the media.

• December 28: Algerian border guards seized in excess of three tons of hashish and two Toyota all terrain vehicles in the vicinity of Akla El Bereaber. Traffickers abandoned the drugs and vehicles prior to escaping across the Moroccan border. A Kalashnikov rifle was also recovered during this military operation.

• December 29: Mali is facing a difficult dilemma in determining a response to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. It is particularly problematic to resolve on a course of action in response to hostages taken by the group. Currently six European kidnap victims are thought to be prisoners of Al Qaeda in Mali.

• December 30: Chakib Khelil, Energy and Mining Minister, raised Algeria's estimated hydrocarbon export revenues from $40 billion to $43 billion. The higher estimate is the result of an increase in world oil prices. Sonatrach chief, Mohamed Meziane, stated that hydrocarbon revenues were valued at $34.5 billion in late October 2009.

• December 31: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb have demanded $7 million and the release of a number of its members being detained in Mauretania in return for permitting the release of three Spanish aid workers it is holding in Mali. The three Spanish workers were kidnapped on November 29, 2009.