(3 minutes read)
· Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who is under treatment in Germany for the last one month or so, is yet to return to the country; the 75-year old president had gone to Cologne, Germany on October 28th
· Since Tebboune’s absence from the country to Cologne, Germany aboard a French medical plane six communiqués, sometimes contradictory, have been issued by the presidency
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who is under treatment in Germany for the last one month or so, is yet to return to the country. The 75-year old president had gone to Cologne, Germany on October 28th. So far, there is no official communication about the nature of his ailment.
According to some sources, because of some incidence of Covid-19 in his official team, the president was hospitalized as a ’voluntary preventive confinement. Sources, however, did not confirm whether the Algerian president’s hospitalization was connected to exposure to infested people. The only indication available is the version given by the state television, which tells that the president’s health is stable.
The absence of president Tebboune has raised concerns since there was a power vacuum for about a month. This is a repeat of what had happened during the hospitalization of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika abroad after his serious stroke in 2013.
Strange things had happened during that time. His brother Said Bouteflika then clandestinely took over the reins of leadership. He tried to impose a fifth term of office for Mr. Bouteflika, which forced Algerians to take to the streets in February 2019. Mr. Bouteflika stepped down on April 2 2019 under the double pressure from the army and the Hirak uprising, which was peaceful.
Since Tebboune’s absence from the country to Cologne, Germany aboard a French medical plane six communiqués, sometimes contradictory, have been issued by the presidency. On November 3, it was revealed that the president was infected with Covid-19. Later, the presidency indicated that the head of state was “on the verge of completing his treatment”. Then, on November 15, another statement said that he had completed his treatment and was undergoing “medical examinations”.
