What is the significance of the setting in "The Outsider" a.k.a. "The Stranger"?

The
setting in "" or "The Outsider" is the desert country of Algeria in northern
Africa. The main character is a foreign Frenchman. First and foremost, the setting takes place
in Meursault's (the Frenchman) non-native country. He is, obviously, from France, and is quite
literally a stranger. Beyond that, however, Algeria stands as not just a foreign country, but a
predominantly Muslim country that does not fit the standard type of western countries. This
makes the cultural divide even greater and makes it more difficult for Meursault to fit
in.

The fact that it takes place in a desert is also important, as many of
Camus's works take place in...