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Algeria: Obligations regarding military service and the reserve; the possibility of obtaining an exemption or stay, including the procedures to follow (May 2001 - June 2005)

Recent information on the obligations regarding military service and the reserve was limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

Military service is mandatory in Algeria (Algeria-Watch 20 Feb. 2005; Davis May 2001). According to a report on Algeria by Brian Davis, published in May 2001 (available in regional documentation centres),

– Law #68-82 of 16 April 1968 made military service an obligation;

– Law #74-103 of 15 November 1974 specified that as of 19 years of age all males had to serve for a period of 24 months;

– Law #89-19 of 12 December 1989 reduced the duration of service to 18 months (ibid.).

"In the year he turns 18, [an Algerian] man must register for service with the local designated authority" (ibid.). Announcements are made "over the radio and television and in the press to remind those who are turning 18 of the requirement to register" (ibid.). Those who are not given an exemption in the first step must undergo a medical examination and, if they are unsuccessful, they are sent "a call-up notice (ordre d'appel) to appear by a certain date for induction into the military" (ibid.).

With regard to the reserves, Brian Davis cites another report published in April 2000 by the United Kingdom Home Office, which states that "after completing his 18 months of active service, an Algerian male will be in the reserve for a period of about 25 years, during which he can be recalled at any time" (ibid.). In May 2001, Brian Davis was "unaware of what further 'recalls' there may have been" since 1998 (ibid.).

With regard to the exemption and stay documents issued by the Algerian authorities, no additional information to that provided in DZA43562.FE of 13 May 2005 and DZA43563.FE of 25 May 2005 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Algeria-Watch. 20 February 2005. M. Mazari. "À la recherche de la carte jaune." <http://www.algeria-watch.de/fr/article/mil/service_militaire.htm> [Accessed 3 June 2005]

Davis, Brian. May 2001. Embassy of Canada in Algeria. Report on Algeria.

Additional Sources Consulted

The Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa could not respond to a request for information from the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

Publications: Le Quid 2005.

Internet sites, inlcuding: Algerian Consulate in Montreal, Amnesty International (AI), Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa, European Country of Information Network (ECOI), Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Human Rights Watch (HRW), United States Department of State, War Resisters' International (WRI), Wikipedia, World News Connection (WNC).

Topics: Military service,