Algeria: President Bouteflika Resigns

Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has tendered his resignation following weeks of mass protests against his 20-year rule.

The 82-year-old president – who has been in power since 1999, but whose ailing health meant that he remained out of the public eye – sparked nationwide protests early last month, after he revealed that he sought to be re-elected for a fifth term.

The mounting pressure from the public forced Bouteflika to withdraw his candidacy.

In a letter shared by a media outlet yesterday, 2 April, Bouteflika announced his decision to resign as president.

He wrote: “This decision which I take in my soul and conscience is destined to contribute to the appeasement of the hearts and minds of my compatriots, to allow them to take Algeria towards a better future to which they legitimately aspire.”

The resignation comes after the Algerian military demanded impeachment proceedings to be launched against Bouteflika.

Abdelkader Bensalah, the 77-year-old chairman of the upper house of parliament, will act as Algeria’s interim leader for up to 90 days, during which a presidential election must be organised.

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