- The former President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was the longest-serving president, received a quiet burial, without the honours accorded to his predecessors at a cemetery for its independence heroes yesterday, September 19.
- His muted funeral, with just three days of national mourning instead of eight, reflected the indifference of Algeria to its former leader.
The former President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was the longest-serving president, received a quiet burial, without the honours accorded to his predecessors at a cemetery for its independence heroes yesterday, September 19. His muted funeral, with just three days of national mourning instead of eight, reflected the indifference of Algeria to its former leader. Only journalists from Algerian national public media were allowed access to the ceremony which was not broadcast live, unlike to the fanfare funeral ceremonies of previous presidential deaths.
Bouteflika who passed away on Friday September 17th at the age of 84 had to quit office in April 2019 and lived as a recluse.He had a long political career, growing from the youngest foreign minister to one of its oldest and longest serving heads of state. He was forced out of the office following weeks of demonstrations over his bid to run for a fifth term in office.
Bouteflika, became the President in 1999 on a wave of popular support as his amnesty offer to Islamist militants brought a decade-long civil war to an end. However a country with vast oil wealth, Algeria witnessed economic decline with growing corruption and unemployment which triggered the Hirak pro-democracy movement which eventually ousted him.
Though the mass protests continued, with demands for a full overhaul of the ruling system, it was suspended due to the pandemic and has struggled to regain momentum as the government cracks down on opposition .
