Brotherhood members and sympathizers took part in the uprising against France in 1954-1962, but the movement was marginalized during the FLN one-party rule which was installed at independence in 1962.

[4] When a multi-party system was introduced in Algeria in the early 1990s, the Muslim Brotherhood formed the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), led by Mahfoud Nahnah until his death in 2003 (he was succeeded by present party leader Boudjerra Soltani).

The Brotherhood condemned the coup, but refused to join the resulting violent uprising by FIS sympathizers and the Armed Islamic Groups (GIA) against the Algerian state and military.

Instead, the group urged a peaceful resolution to the conflict and cooperation with the state, which for a time caused some strains with the international Muslim Brotherhood, where many sympathized with the Islamist insurgency.

In parliament and government, the party has tried to strengthen conservative and Islamic trends in state and society, e.g. in opposing secularizing changes in the Algerian Family Code.

It has argued in favor of amnesty and reconciliation efforts towards former Islamist guerrillas, while simultaneously condemning violence and supporting the state in its confrontation with radical groups still fighting, such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (formerly GSPC).

The party remained committed to the political process, arguing in favor of peaceful reconciliation, an amnesty for Islamist fighters and a return to democracy, while criticizing both sides of the conflict.

As part of the presidential coalition, the party has argued for conservative values and the Islamization of society, as well as supported Bouteflika's projects to grant amnesty to former Islamist militants.

[citation needed] In the 2007 parliamentary elections, the MSP again ran as a member of the presidential bloc, earning 10% of the popular vote and becoming the third-largest party of the parliament, with 51 seats.