In December 1991 the Islamic Salvation Front dominated the first of two rounds of legislative elections . Fearing the election of an Islamist government , the authorities intervened on 11 January 1992 , cancelling the elections . Bendjedid resigned and a High Council of State was installed to act as the Presidency . It banned the FIS , triggering a civil insurgency between the Front 's armed wing , the Armed Islamic Group , and the national armed forces , in which more than 100,000 people are thought to have died . The Islamist militants conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres . At several points in the conflict , the situation in Algeria became a point of international concern , most notably during the crisis surrounding Air France Flight 8969 , a hijacking perpetrated by the Armed Islamic Group . The Armed Islamic Group declared a ceasefire in October 1997
Air France Flight 8969
Air France Flight 8969
Algeria