About Algeria

Algeria is a North African country that is 80% desert. It has 41 distinct people groups, 36 of which are considered unreached by the Joshua Project. Arabic is the official language with French being an important secondary language. The largest people group is the Arabic speaking Algerians or the Arabized Berbers. The Arabized Berbers are descendants from a nomadic plains people who were heavily influenced by invading Arab Bedouins. The second largest group is the Kabyle Berbers who live in the rugged mountainous regions of Algeria; they were less influenced by Arabic culture and still retain some pre-Islamic religious customs. Since 1992 radical Islamists have agitated for the institution of sharia law and seek to roll back the spread of Christianity causing violent upheavals.

In this region Christian Aid supports efforts by indigenous missionaries to print and distribute Bibles written in the Arabic language.

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