Maghreb Edition

Algeria: Another corrupt former Justice Minister arrested for alleged criminal activityF

Posted On 23 August 2019

Number of times this article was read : 346

Algeria’s former justice minister Tayeb Louh was Thursday placed in preventative detention on allegations of abuse of power, state media reported. Louh is the latest in a string of prominent politicians and businessmen to be questioned or detained over alleged graft since president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in April amid mass protests against his rule.

State television channel A3 said the investigating magistrate ordered Louh to be held in preventive detention, without giving further details. The national news agency APS said the former justice minister is under investigation for several alleged offences, including “abuse of power and obstructing justice”. In July the Algiers prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation into Louh concerning issues “related to corruption”.

Louh, 68, was close to Bouteflika and served as labour minister from 2002 to 2013 when he became justice minister, a job he kept until the cabinet resigned in March in the face of growing anti-government protests. Since Bouteflika stepped down, several politicians, government officials and businessmen once linked to him have come under scrutiny by authorities cracking down on corruption.

Two former prime ministers, nine cabinet ministers, a former police chief and a dozen key businessmen are among those placed in provisional detention in recent months. But protesters fear the arrests are more the result of internal score settling post-Bouteflika than an even handed attempt to clean up Algerian politics.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco: Employment Gains Concentrate in Urban Centers as Rural Areas Fall BehindF

Morocco’s labor market showed strong job creation in 2025, but the gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in urban areas. While cities absorbed nearly all new employment, rural regions continued to lose jobs, exposing a widening divide that leaves young people, women, and rural workers increasingly disconnected from the recovery.

Egypt and Turkey Test Pragmatic Rapprochement After Years of EstrangementF

Egypt and Turkey are cautiously rebuilding relations after years of estrangement, driven by shifting regional dynamics and converging state interests. Recent defense-industrial cooperation and renewed diplomatic engagement point to a pragmatic recalibration rather than full political reconciliation, as both countries test whether managed coordination can replace prolonged rivalry.

Egypt Deepens Defense-Industrial Engagement With ChinaF

Egypt is advancing defense-industrial cooperation with China through localized production, joint exercises, and expanded military training links. Developments during 2025 point to a pragmatic effort by Cairo to diversify suppliers and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, while Beijing cautiously broadens engagement beyond conventional arms sales.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.