Algeria reforms military service policy

In another concession to youth, the Algerian president eases national service requirements.

By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers – 08/03/11

Algerian men over age 30 are no longer required to perform military service.

The measure is the latest in a series of steps "taken for handling youth preoccupations", the National Service Department said Thursday (March 3rd) about the new policy announced by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Other initiatives aimed to provide employment, housing and bank loans.

"I am now filled with hope as I contemplate the future," Jamel Marouf, a 32-year-old statistical analyst, said. "I graduated from university seven years ago, and for all these years, I've been unable to get a job with a public-sector body."

Like other Algerian men, Marouf needed a "military card" to land a job. National service is compulsory in the country, and holding a certificate of completion of "this duty" is essential for traveling abroad or securing employment.

Prior to February 28th, Marouf had been on the Military Service Department's "absent without leave" list as he did not reply to any of the call-up notices sent to him.

"For me, there was no way I was going to spend 18 months doing national service. I believe this commitment should be voluntary for the person concerned and not required by law," he added, saying that he had no regrets, not even for the years of unemployment and frustration that he went through as a young person.

Salim Nadjer, 36, was also pleased about the decision. A doctor by training, he paid dearly for his absence without leave as it prevented his career from developing. He knew that those who had not done military service were barred from taking post-graduation exams.

Nadjer explained his refusal to serve state, saying that during the years of the Black Decade "it was a big risk; young soldiers were being killed by terrorists".

"Doing national service was regarded as a major sin by terrorist groups," he said.

The move affects not only men living in Algeria, but also those residing abroad. Thousands of researchers and talented individuals have been unable to return to their home country because of national service.

Aziz Taourit, a journalist by training, has been living in France for seven years. "I burst with happiness and cried for hours when I heard the news," he said. "I don't care about the political motives, I've been exempted from military service, and that will enable me to go back to Algeria and see my family and friends again."

"I was like a prisoner waiting for his fate to be decided. I'm the happiest man in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, experts believe it is now time to reflect in depth on national service instead of resorting to "populist" measures.

It is important to do away with national service as part of the efforts to professionalize the army that have been made over the last ten years, according to political researcher Othman Selini.

Some MPs proposed that the duration of national service be limited to nine months, recalling that until 2002, it lasted for two years. It was later reduced to 18 months. A third option would be to make it voluntary for youths.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/03/08/feature-02.