Rabat – The Algerian government has created a national controversy by dismissing the Minister of Tourism, Messaoud Benagoun, only two days after his appointment.
The presidential palace of El Mouradia issued a statement saying that the president of the republic, Abdelaziz Boutefika, sacked the minister following a suggestion made by the Prime Minister Abdelmajid Tebboune. No details were provided on the reasons of such a decision.
Local media sought to uncover the mystery behind the dismissal of the minister only 48 hours after the government was announced.
“Was it a casting mistake?” asked Algerian news outlet Algerie Focus. What the website revealed on Saturday provides an answer to the enigma.
The 32-year-old politician’s qualification are limited to his career as a Secretary General of the students union, Mouvement National des Etudiants Algériens (MNEA), and as a member of the political party Mouvement Populaire Algérien (MPA), led by former trade minister Amara Benyouness.
During the latest general elections held in May, he failed as MPA candidate in his bid to win a parliamentary seat of the 14 reserved for the prefecture of Batna.
MNEA’s role in campaigning for President Bouteflika in his attempt to win a third mandate in 2009 provided Benagoun with connections in the presidency. Apart from that, he has never assumed any public position.
“His nomination is a result of deal between MPA and the presidency of the republic,” wrote Algérie Focus. “Through this appointment, Amara Benyounes sought to run the ministry of tourism from behind the curtains.”
Ennahar TV, known as a mouthpiece of the Algerian regime, revealed that one of the reasons behind the quick dismissal of Benagoun was the fact that several officials of the ministry of tourism resigned in protest against his appointment.
“This absurd situation raises serious questions about how much the presidency is truly serious in its choice of the people who assume the state’s highest public positions,” concluded Algérie Focus.
