CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE represents significant progress, which should be continued, and it encourages all the stakeholders to consolidate what has been achieved. 151. Conflicts associated with the management of rural land. “The question of land, like that of identity, language or education, encourages violent exchanges among those who have conflicting opinions. Over the past fifteen years, these have constituted the main thrust of numerous electoral campaigns.” This is according to research carried out by Algeria‟s National Institute of Agronomic Research. According to the Institute, the agrarian structure in Algeria makes a distinction between public land and private land. The Land Act of 1990, apart from its general provisions, makes provision for the principle of restitution to former owners of land nationalised 20 years earlier. This provision gave rise to numerous conflicts between the initial landowners, those persons to whom the land was allocated and who had exploited it since its nationalisation, and the administration. 152. Although the meetings on the ground did not allow for the expression of many different ideas on this important question, the CRM nonetheless noted that the transition from a centralised economy to economic liberalisation, especially in the industrial and agricultural spheres, raises the critical issue of land management in general, and rural land management in particular. It highlights that this question calls for special attention if fomenting tensions and conflicts are to be defused. 153. Potential conflict in relations with neighbouring countries. In matters of immigration, it emerged from meetings on the ground that Algeria is not only a transit country, but also a territory where illegal immigrants wish to “settle”. Fifty-four different nationalities are found in the country. The wilayas most affected by this phenomenon are situated on the southern and western borders, such as Tamanrasset, Adrar, Illizi and Tlemcen. However, the wilayas to the north also have a large number of nationals from the south of the Sahara, who are unsuccessful in their attempts to immigrate to Europe. Maghnia remains a transit point. The closure of European borders and “available” employment have turned Algeria into “a country for illegal immigration”, according to a recent report. 154. Meetings on the ground revealed that illegal immigration is often accompanied by other forms of serious criminality, such as contraband goods, drug and arms trafficking, counterfeiting, prostitution and forgery of documents. This represents a serious attack on public law and order and is a source of potential tension; hence the concern expressed by the people for the establishment of a formal framework and an institution charged with dealing with this problem. 155. Drug trafficking and contraband goods constitute a major concern of the Algerian people and the state. Drugs, which supposedly come from outside the country, represent a serious threat to Algerian youth. According to statistics, close to 10 tons were seized in 2005; nearly 13 tons had already been seized in 2004. There is increasing local consumption of these destructive products. The exorbitant profits of criminal organisations, especially of those involved in 66