Algeria: Two Ex-Prime Ministers Convicted

A court in Algeria has handed lengthy jail sentences to two of the country’s former prime ministers, who were found guilty of corruption-related charges.

On Tuesday, 10 December, the court sentenced Ahmed Ouyahia – who served as the prime minister of Algeria four times, most recently from 2017 until March this year – to 15 years in prison. He was also fined $16 000.

Abdelmalek Sellal – who held the position of prime minister twice, most recently from 2014 to 2017 – was given a 12-year prison sentence and fined $8 000.

Caught up in a car manufacturing embezzlement scandal, the pair were among 19 others who were arrested and tried on charges of money laundering, abuse of office, and granting undue privileges in the vehicle assembly industry.

Ouyahia and Sellal also had close ties to former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned as the country’s president in April amid protests against widespread corruption in the government.

The convicted men have 10 days to appeal against their sentences.

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