Algeria’s powerful army chief Gaid Salah dies

Algeria’s powerful army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah has died of a heart attack at age 79, state television reported yesterday. Gaid Salah was seen as Algeria’s de facto strongman following the April resignation of long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the face of massive protests against his bid for a fifth term.

The lifelong military man played a key role pushing through December 12 presidential elections for Bouteflika’s replacement, defying a monthslong protest movement that has demanded deep-rooted political reforms before any poll. “The deputy defence minister and chief of staff of the army died yesterday morning of a heart attack,” said the presidency in a statement, read out by a presenter on state news channel Algeria 3.

As chief of Algeria’s military for a record 15 years and a veteran of Algeria’s war for independence, the general was seen as the guardian of the military-dominated system that has been in power since. When Bouteflika appointed him in 2004 to head the armed forces – the backbone of Algeria’s opaque regime – he became one of the North African country’s most powerful men.

He had supported Bouteflika for years until the president’s February announcement that he would run for re-election sparked unprecedented demonstrations. In early April, Gaid Salah called on his boss to resign. Bouteflika quit the same day, leaving the armed forces chief effectively in charge of the country.