Algeria’s President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika has finally resigned from power, ending his 20 year rule, state media reports.
On Sunday he named a new government with Prime Minister, Noureddine Bedoui heading it.
The naming of a new cabinet by Bouteflika according to some, signaled the possibility of he exiting.
On Monday it was reported that he will resign on April 28 but there were continued protests forcing him to finally quit.
APS news agency reported that Bouteflika decided to finally resign after the country’s army chief of staff called for procedures to remove him from office.
Ahmed Gaid Salah for weeks questioned Bouteflika’s fitness to remain in office as president.
APS reports that army chief declare Bouteflika unfit to rule calling for “the immediate application of the constitutional procedure for removing the head of state from power.”
On Tuesday, President Bouteflika officially notified “President of the Constitutional Council of his decision to resign”, APS reports.
? #Urgent
Le président de la République, Abdelaziz #Bouteflika, a notifié officiellement au président du #Conseil_constitutionnel, sa décision de mettre fin à son mandat en qualité de président de la République. pic.twitter.com/cjunX9gwsL— APS | وأج (@APS_DZ) April 2, 2019
Article 102 of the Algerian constitution allows the President to quit or face the verdict of the constitutional council whether he is still fit for office.
Forced out by protests
The demand for Bouteflika’s exit has been growing for weeks now but he continued to cling on to power.
Elections were supposed to have taken place this month to choose a new president.
Bouteflika had filed to contest that election but rescinded his decision at the peak of protests.
He then called for the suspension of the elections. Many were hoping he will let go the presidency in order to restore calm to the country.
Bouteflika reportedly suffered stroke in 2013 and hardly makes public appearances. He was confined to a wheel-chair and medically unwell.
But he governed Algeria for the past 20 years.
Source: Africafeeds.com
