EXECUTIVE SUMMARY able to surmount the numerous and successive challenges that have dotted its destiny. The most important of these has been to regain the country‟s independence and re-establish national sovereignty. 3. MAIN OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS ON THE THEMATIC AREAS 3.1 Democracy and political governance 3.1 On the matter of conflict, the CRM noted with satisfaction that, despite having experienced a decade of terrorism and indiscriminate violence, Algeria has been able to avoid the trap of civil war and has embarked on a phase of peacebuilding, which needs to be sustained. However, other internal conflicts of relative intensity should be mentioned. These have to do with language even if the Tamazight language has been recognised as an official language in the Constitution, sociocultural diversity, human rights, employment and rural land. Within the region, clandestine immigration is a potential source of conflict because, from being a transit point, Algeria is now becoming the destination of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. There is also the matter of cross-border trafficking of drugs, arms, smuggled goods and counterfeit administrative documents, as well as prostitution, all of which create tension between neighbouring states. The closure of the border with Morocco is a case in point. 3.2 Algeria has signed and ratified most of the legal international and African instruments that impact on the enjoyment of human rights. It has ratified them by presidential decree or regulatory acts that facilitate their direct or immediate application. Reservations have, however, been placed on some. 3.3 As regards constitutional democracy, multi-party elections and ensuring rule of law, the return to democracy and electoral competition in itself is an immeasurable victory for the Algerian nation. The country appears to be holding its own against the two major challenges that come with some degree of modernity: the challenge of building (1) a multi-party social democracy that guarantees political transition, the sovereign power of the people and grassroots democracy without sacrificing national unity, and (2) establishing the rule of law based on the republican model, which accommodates diversity in every form and guarantees every citizen equal opportunity and effective participation in the management of public affairs. 3.4 After the recent traumatic experiences of terrorism, the party and electoral system seems to have learnt to be prudent and progressive in the establishment of democracy and multi-partyism. Registered parties carry out their activities under relatively satisfactory conditions and have limited, supervised access to the main broadcast media (radio and television) under de facto state monopoly. Parties receive state funds only for their election campaigns. The organisation of elections has improved with each successive election. An independent constitutional judge (Constitutional Council) guarantees the 7