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Rabat – The Algerian presidency announced the death of Abdelaziz Bouteflika on September 17.
The Morocco-born former Algerian president was 84. The man served as Algeria’s president from April 1999 until April 2019.
The deceased belonged to the “Oujda Clan,” which commonly refers to members of the Army of National Liberation (ALN), which was based in the city of Oujda in eastern Morocco.
Led by Houari Boumedien, this group seized power following a military coup that in the autumn of 1965 overthrew Mohammed Ben Bella, the first president of independent Algeria.
Bouteflika rose to prominence at his early age and went on to become Boumedien’s Minister for Foreign Affairs for over a decade. He was regarded as the country’s second strongest man after Boumedien and the latter’s right hand. In 1974, Bouteflika was elected president of the twenty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Despite his credentials both at the domestic and external levels, Bouteflika was unable to assume the presidency following the death of his mentor Houari Boumedien in 1978. The military, who wield the power and have the ultimate say in promoting and demoting political figures, chose then Minister of Defense, Chedli Ben Jdid.
During the following two decades, Bouteflika went into quasi oblivion and embarked into a self-imposed exile which led him to live between France and some Gulf countries. The military approached him in 1999 and asked him to assume the presidency. Since his election the same year, Bouteflika launched several initiatives aimed at healing the wounds of the 10-year long civilian war, which caused the death of 200,000 people.
Bouteflika is credited with having launched the “Civilian Harmony,” initiative which offered amnesty or reduced prison terms to former members of islamist groups in exchange of giving up their arms.
The initiative was a resounding success, allowing Algeria to eventually end the long and grim chapter of violence and rampant insecurity in the country. Throughout his 20-year rule, Bouteflika was regarded by Algerians as the man who brought peace to the country.
The seasoned politician fell from grace in 2019 when he sought a fifth term for his presidency. His attempt led to widespread protests and demonstrations and the emergence of the popular Hirak movement, forcing the man to resign from the presidency.
