The North Africa Journal – 26 March 2019: The Kouninef brothers have been the focal point of several influential newspapers and have been under attack by social media commentators for their alleged strong ties and support of the Bouteflika regime. The Kouninef family has been in business in Algeria since the 1970s. The founding father of this family, which has become one of the richest in Algeria, has long been one of Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s closest friends, providing him with a great deal of financial support. Since Bouteflika became President in 1999, the Kouninef family has created an empire, while working under the radar.