Maghreb Edition

Algeria: Year before election, president picks new prime ministerF

Posted On 15 November 2023

Number of times this article was read : 3433

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dismissed his prime minister on Saturday, replacing him with a seasoned diplomat, the presidency said. Tebboune named Nadir Larbaoui, currently serving as director of the presidential cabinet, to replace Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane. Before heading Tebboune’s cabinet, Larbaoui was a longstanding diplomat, having served as Algeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and in multiple ambassador posts.

The nomination of Larbaoui, 74, came just over a year before presidential elections due to be held in December 2024. Tebboune, 77, has not  yet announced whether he will run for a second term. Benabderrahmane served as prime minister since June 2021. The reason for his dismissal has not been announced.

But according to the Algerian news website Interlignes, “a change in the executive has been in the air for some time”. Algerian news website TSA said the change came after Tebboune publicly criticised “the management of tensions connected to the availability of foodstuffs, and the implementation of certain presidential decisions”.

The dismissal also comes a month after Tebboune ordered the appointment of a number of new presidential advisors, in another sign of his dissatisfaction with the prime minister’s performance. The new advisors were charged with “monitoring governmental activities” as well as all “economic, political, institutional and diplomatic questions”.

AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply$

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa$

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

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.