Ex-Algerian President Bouteflika Dies

Arab World

September 18th, 4:36am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika attends the opening session of the first Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Doha November 15, 2011. REUTERS/Mohammed Dabbous/File Photo

Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after two decades in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday. The report on ENTV, citing a statement from the office of current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, did not provide the cause of death or information about funeral arrangements. Bouteflika had suffered a stroke in 2013 that badly weakened him. Concerns about his state of health, kept secret from the Algerian public, helped feed public frustration with his 20-year, corruption-tarnished rule. Mass public protests by the Hirak movement led to his departure. The protests erupted after he announced plans to run for a fifth term in 2019, and it was the then-army chief who sealed Bouteflika's fate by siding with the demonstrators. Bouteflika had no choice but to step down.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3195426/ex-algerian-president-bouteflika-dies