Algeria, the largest country in Africa, is located in North Africa along the Mediterranean coast, bordered by nations such as Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Morocco. Its history stretches back thousands of years, with early inhabitants including Berber-speaking peoples whose rich cultural heritage is still evident today. Algeria became an important territory within the ancient Carthaginian and later Roman empires, and it prospered as a center of trade and learning in the Islamic world following the Arab conquests of the 7th century. For centuries, it was part of the Ottoman Empire until French colonization began in 1830, which subjected Algerians to harsh rule and sparked a long struggle for independence. After a brutal eight-year war of liberation, Algeria gained sovereignty in 1962, led by the National Liberation Front (FLN). Since independence, Algeria has navigated periods of political turmoil, economic challenges, and civil conflict, but it remains a country noted for its diverse landscapes, cultural heritage, and significant influence in African and Arab affairs.