Algeria

October 2005 | Risk Summary

According to results announced by the Interior Minister, 97.4% of voters endorsed the president's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation in a referendum on September 29. While we had anticipated that the charter would be approved, the massive margin of victory casts doubt on the authenticity of the poll result. Furthermore, reports of half-empty polling booths have caused journalists to raise questions over the official turnout rate of 82%. In spite of these reservations, the government is now claiming a strong popular mandate and will press on with the amnesty process, which, it is hoped, will reduce attacks by Islamist

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