Newsbeat's guide to... Algeria
By Nomia Iqbal
Newsbeat reporter
- Published
Image source, ReutersDavid Cameron is flying to Algeria later after the hostage crisis earlier this month that left up to six Britons dead.
The prime minister will hold talks with officials there about how to prevent something like that happening again.
It is thought that the kidnappers had links with al-Qaeda.
Downing Street also plans to deploy around 330 soldiers and RAF personnel to Mali, which shares a border with Algeria, and West Africa, to support French forces.
Al-Qaeda's influence in North Africa has grown in the last 10 years, presenting a new security threat for western countries like the UK, US and France.
Why is Algeria important?
The second largest country in Africa, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a gateway between Africa and Europe. It's bordered by Libya, Tunisia, Mali and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of Algerian territory. Oil and gas reserves make up 97% of its exports, mainly to European countries. Algeria is seen as a superpower in the region so extremists see an attack there as a way of punishing the country and the west.
Algeria's proximity to Mali is also important because this area is seen as key haven for al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups. Those groups want France to end its current military campaign in Mali but it's feared the fallout is now spreading beyond those borders.
Who is the group behind the kidnapping?
Image source, Getty ImagesThey are thought to be al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a Mali-based Islamist militant organisation which wants to overthrow the Algerian government and install a state where religion shapes law. It has threatened both France and Spain.
It is said to have up to 800 fighters spread throughout Algeria and Europe. The US has called it a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The main AQIM leader is a one-eyed former soldier called Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Trained in Afghanistan, he has a long record of smuggling arms, kidnapping and violence and is referred to as 'the uncatchable' as well as 'Mr Marlboro' because he makes money through cigarette smuggling.
He is wanted in Algeria for terrorism charges. Last month he formed a new group called al-Mulathamin: The Masked Ones.
How has AQIM managed to increase its power?
Image source, AFP/GettyIn March 2012, it seized control of north Mali, a very impoverished part of the country, and started recruiting across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It's said to have established significant footholds in major cities.
The offshoot used to be ranked as one of al-Qaeda's weaker franchises but it's built up a sizeable war chest of millions of dollars from kidnapping ransoms, drugs and trafficking of fuel and tobacco which has allowed it to survive.
The US has drawn parallels with the Taliban in Afghanistan before 9/11 and says AQIM has fast grown to become one of the most potent al-Qaeda affiliates.