Algeria's Powerful Army Chief Gaid Salah Passes Away
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Algeria's powerful army chief Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was instrumental in bringing down long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has died, state media reported on Monday. The 79-year-old's death comes at a time of mass protests across Africa's largest country as people demand that the ruling elite quits power and that the influential military steps back from politics. Gaid Salah's departure may not signify major changes to Algeria's economic and political policies, however, as he had plenty of potential successors in a military that has remained united over the handling of the protests, Reuters reported. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that the head of land forces, General Said Chengriha, would take over as acting chief of staff of the armed forces. The army's prominent role was underlined last week at Tebboune's inauguration, during which he embraced Gaid Salah and presented him with an order of merit immediately after his own swearing in. Soon after mass protests erupted early this year, Gaid Salah's televised speech urging president Bouteflika to quit led to the veteran leader's swift resignation. The army then backed a series of arrests of Bouteflika allies and senior businessmen in an anti-corruption campaign that was widely seen as a purge of the military's rivals within the ruling system.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2048796/algerias-powerful-army-chief-gaid-salah-passes-away
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