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ALGIERS. – Algeria’s state news agency APS reported that embattled President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has quit, informing the country’s constitutional council of his decision to stand down.
The news came shortly after the Algerian Defence Ministry aggressively called on Tuesday for Bouteflika to quit “immediately.”
The ministry, which controls the army, had said “there is no more time to waste” after six weeks of nationwide protests against the chief of state and his inner circle.
The 82-year-old Bouteflika has been in office for 20 years. He suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been rarely seen in public since then. On Monday, he said he would resign by the end of his fourth term on April 28, capitulating to growing calls for his resignation.
There have been frequent demonstrations in Algeria against Bouteflika running for a fifth term as president.
Meanwhile, Algerian authorities seized the passports of seven businessmen under investigation over corruption allegations, the private Ennahar TV reported on Monday.
On Sunday, authorities also arrested Ali Haddad, a leading Algerian businessman who was part of the inner circle of Bouteflika. One of the country’s richest men, Haddad was caught with large sums of money trying to cross into neighbouring Tunisia, local media said.
Authorities had on Sunday banned all private aircraft from taking off and landing until the end of the month.
Despite Bouteflika’s resignation, Algerian students on social networks called for large protests to be held on Tuesday in the capital and the rest of the country.
Mohamed, a member of a student union in Algiers, said that the departure of Bouteflika is not “enough”.
“It does not change anything. He will leave but the same regime, which has ruled Algeria since 1962 and its independence, will stay if we don’t continue to protest. What we want is not only Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down, but we also want the creation of a new political system,” he told Al Jazeera.
Likewise, Amel, a computer engineer who lives in Algiers, said that she is not satisfied with Bouteflika’s decision. “He is only the tip of the iceberg. The ruling elite, who is clinging to power, is trying to distract us with the President’s resignation. But we are not duped,” Amel told Al Jazeera.
Amina, an undergraduate student at Algiers School of Architecture, who said that she would take part to a gathering against the government tomorrow, described Bouteflika’s last announcement as “a small victory”.
“It is a first step but this is not our final goal. We won’t be successful if Bouteflika resigns while the old guard remains after April 28. They must all leave. Now more than ever, we need to stay united and peacefully demonstrate against the regime,” Amina told Al Jazeera. – AP/Al Jazeera
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