Ex-Algerian president Bouteflika dies aged 84
Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is dead. Mr Bouteflika died on Friday at age 84 after a long bout with medical problems.
The Algerian presidency announced his death in a statement by incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The statement noted Mr Bouteflika’s legacy as a fighter in the war for independence from France and announced that flags would be lowered to half mast for three days to honour him.
Mr Bouteflika, who led Algeria for two decades, resigned in 2019 under pressure from the military, following weeks of protests over his bid to run for a fifth term in office.
After suffering a stroke in 2013, Mr Bouteflika withdrew from the general public. The stroke affected his speech and forced him to use a wheelchair.
In 2014, he earned the nickname of “the phantom president” after being elected for a fourth consecutive term without physically appearing on the campaign trail, despite growing public doubts about his ability to rule.
Mr Bouteflika first became president of Algeria in 1999 after a civil war that separated the country from French rule and killed nearly 200,000 people.
Condolences from world leaders have poured in; President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement by his Spokesman, Femi Adesina, sent his condolences to the family of the former president and the Algerian people “as they mourn the loss of the remarkable leader’’.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also sent his condolences to the current Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday.
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