Algeria

Algeria’s Ex-President Bouteflika dies at 84

cde.news desk 18 September 2021, 10:07 · 1 min read

epa04183737 Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, re-elected for a fourth mandate, during the oath of office in Algiers, Algeria, 28 April 2014. Bouteflika was sworn in for a fourth term in a wheelchair. Bouteflika, who was reelected in April 17 elections, appeared stronger than in recent appearances but still fatigued as he took the oath of office in a televised ceremony at the Palais des Nations convention centre. The 77-year-old leader's quest for another five years in office, despite being too weak to campaign after suffering a stroke last year, had divided Africa's biggest gas producer. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

France 24 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who ruled Algeria for two decades before resigning in 2019 as huge protests engulfed the country, died on Friday aged 84, public television announced.

The former strongman had left office in April 2019 under pressure from the military, following weeks of demonstrations over his bid to run for a fifth term in office.

After quitting, he had stayed out of the public eye at a residence in western Algiers.

Bouteflika became president of Algeria in 1999 as the former French colony emerged from a decade of civil war that killed nearly 200,000 people. Bouteflika went on to be elected for three more consecutive five-year terms, most recently in 2014.

France 24

Photo EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

Filed under Algeria

Topics Algeria President

Algeria’s Ex-President Bouteflika dies at 84

More from Algeria

Italy’s PM Meloni plans closer cooperation with Algeria to boost gas deliveries

Algeria declares President Tebboune election winner

Algeria goes to the polls