It is a real start of the Franco-Algerian controversy, one more, which has started with the film “Carlos”, made by Olivier Assayas, and in which we see terrorists being given a briefcase full of money by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, at the time Minister of Foreign Affairs in Algeria in return of setting free the hostages. A brief reminder of the facts: it was since thirty five years ago, a DC-9 has landed on Algiers airport tarmac, on its border, the terrorist Carlos (with its real name Illich Ramirez Sanchez) and the forty two hostages kidnapped at the headquarters of the OPEC in Vienna. As a welcoming committee, a short man stamping, with a large smile under a moustache standing on his face. Abdelaziz Bouteflika has just succeeded the mediation of all the dangers, the one that would allow two terrorists hostages, the most wanted in the world, to join their families. For the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos is an old acquaintance, because they both are hunting on the same lands: those of the extreme left illegal network, working in Europe and ready to start armed struggle. Algeria is supporting them, giving them logistic support and camps for cosmopolitan training where “freedom fighters” from all over the world meet, among whom those appearing on the international terrorism legend, such as the “doctor” Waddi Haddad. Suddenly, all this past reappears, and it is through fiction that the ties between Carlos and Bouteflika are brought out again. Bouteflika thought having turned the page, and having finished with these young with long hair, clamouring for a revolution.
Thus, it is certain that bringing back the “old issues” can only be a conspiracy aiming to destabilize the presidency and Algeria, at a time then terrorism and hijacking are no more considered as play activities for merry revolutionary people.
The question here is not even to know if Abdelaziz Bouteflika has really given the money to an international terrorist, but to go deep in the Algerian decision making in the 70s, with its intrigues and influence struggles which peak would be to turn down this same Bouteflika from power. He would be experiencing a journey across the desert for more than twenty years. A system, able to eliminate the most obvious choice to lead the country, deserves a close interest to understand the spring of the implacable and specific mechanism which animates the Democratic and Popular Republic.
