# What is Algeria really like?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-algeria-really-like/174203>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 9, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-algeria-really-like/174203 "2003-05-09T21:40:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-algeria-really-like/174203/1 "2003-05-09T21:40:58Z")

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A very good friend of mine is thinking about taking a job in Algeria. He’s worked overseas before, anf is pretty enthusiastic about it. However…

We’ve found a number of sites, including US government ones, that warn Americans against going there, and stories of people being killed or kidnapped.

But then there are people who say you’ll be fine as long as you stay in the city, that its only the people who go off exploring without a guide who get in trouble.

My friend is a project/manager/engineer in the petroleum industry.  
It’s not exactly a desk job - he will have to drive (or be driven) around to various sites. Luckily he should be able to be armed - according to him the company encourages management to carry and will provide him with a pistol if he doesn’t bring his own.

So, is it really a dangerous place?

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**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-algeria-really-like/174203/2 "2003-05-09T22:29:27Z")

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[Take a virtual tour](http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/explore/journey/algeria/alindex.htm)

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**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-algeria-really-like/174203/3 "2003-05-10T00:46:35Z")

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Be [careful](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3000317.stm)!

[Travel Warning, US State Department](http://travel.state.gov/algeria_warning.html)

Here is a quote from the State Dept. Warning…

> [@](#):
>
> The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully their security and safety before traveling to Algeria. Random terrorist attacks still occur in rural and remote areas, on public transportation outside the major cities, and in some parts of the country at night. In the past year, the greater Algiers area has seen sporadic terrorist attacks, including drive-by shootings of police and small explosive devices placed in or near markets and bus stops.

The [United Kingdom](http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385585) urges “against all holiday and other non-essential travel to Algeria. The security situation in northern Algeria remains serious, especially outside the main cities. We strongly advise against all travel to the desert and mountainous areas of the South East, because of the unexplained disappearance of at least 29 foreign tourists there in February and March.”

The Governments of [Canada](http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=5000), [Australia](http://www.dfat.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Algeria), and [New Zealand](http://www.mft.govt.nz/travel/#A) strongly urge their citizens to avoid travel to Algeria as there is widespread occurrences or terrorist attacks and kidnapping of foreign nationals.

Would I go? Yes. Although I wouldn’t leave Algiers and take all the precautions that the US State Department advised of in their current travel warning.