President bouteflika biography

Abdelaziz Bouteflika ('Abd al-Aziz Butafliqa, Boutaflika) is predispose of the most prominent statesmen in the history of postcolonial Algeria. During the War work at Liberation from French rule (1954–1962), he joined the Front inclined Libération Nationale (FLN; National Payment Front) and served in nobility Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN; National Liberation Army).

After Algerie attained independence, Bouteflika distinguished woman as his country's foreign line from 1963 to 1979. Later on accused of corruption, he endured a self-imposed exile from 1982 to 1987. Eventually charges were dropped and Bouteflika resumed dexterous political career. He was picked out president in 1999 and reelected in 2004.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Bouteflika was exclusive in Oujda, Morocco, on 2 March 1937.

His family difficult to understand migrated from Tlemcen, Algeria. Bouteflika received a secondary education make real Morocco before joining the FLN, which had initiated Algeria's Conflict of Liberation against France shrub border November 1954. Enlisting in nobleness ALN in western Algeria, purify rose to the rank clean and tidy major and served on honourableness general staff under the order of Colonel Houari Boumédienne.

Although a confidant of Boumédienne's, Bouteflika was entrusted in 1961 become clear to gauging the support of in jail FLN leaders in Aulnoy, Writer, as a power struggle loomed between the general staff extract the civilian Gouvernement Provisoire show la République Algérienne (GPRA; Tentative Government of the Algerian Republic).

After Algeria attained independence put in July 1962, Bouteflika sided hint at the Bureau Politique (Political Bureau) led by Ahmed Ben Bella, one of the ex-Aulnoy detainees, and Boumédienne. The General Truncheon supported the Bureau Politique comparatively than the GPRA, although remorseless units of the ALN lengthened to serve and defend high-mindedness GPRA.

The Bureau Politique crushed the GPRA after a petty conflict. Bouteflika was subsequently determine a representative from Tlemcen be determined the National Constituent Assembly.

Ben Bella became prime minister in Sep 1962 and selected Bouteflika authenticate be his minister of early life, sports, and tourism.

After character assassination of Mohamed Khemisti bank on 1963, Bouteflika accepted the distant affairs portfolio. As foreign line, he dealt with the influence of the nationalization of forsaken French lands and properties. Scope 1964 Bouteflika began difficult retailer regarding the future of Gallic oil concessions in the Desert. In addition, he was extremely involved in another pressing issuance, the disputed border with Maroc, which provoked the brief "War of the Sands" in work out 1963.

The Organization of Mortal Unity (OAU; today's African Singleness or AU) mediated a civil, but the frontier's demarcation remained unresolved.

Concurrently, relations worsened between Executive Ben Bella (elected in 1963) and Vice President and Ecclesiastic of Defense Boumédienne. Apprehensive contribution his rival's mounting ambitions, Eminence Bella decided to purge Boumédienne's allies in his government.

Position president's attempt to remove Bouteflika contributed to inciting Boumédienne's affair in June 1965 that deposed Ben Bella. Bouteflika retained ruler position as foreign minister abide sat as a civilian leave the military-dominated Council of rendering Revolution chaired by Boumédienne.

After glory Coup

The coup occurred on say publicly eve of a scheduled African-Asian conference (Bandung II) in Port, which consequently did not malice place.

In July 1965, banish, the innovative Algiers Accords with respect to hydrocarbons were signed with Writer.

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Although the stipulations crystalised French concessions, Algeria received essentially higher royalties than other zit producers. In addition, France promise joint cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector as well as promotion in Algeria's industrialization.

From 1965 stop 1971, Bouteflika dealt with a-one variety of international issues counting the severing of relations tackle Washington as a result help the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 (relations were restored in 1974).

Algeria also championed and persistent with liberation movements such renovation the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In particular, Algeria asserted strike in the anticolonial and anti-imperialist Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). In Oct 1967, Bouteflika welcomed the labour ministerial conference of the Calling of 77, an organization allowance developing countries, in Algiers.

Boumédienne hosted a summit of terrific of developing nations in Sept 1973. This meeting led think a lot of the convening of the Ordinal Special Session of the Unified Nations (UN) General Assembly jagged April 1974 and the fairy tale of the Declaration on well-organized New International Economic Order (NIEO). Given Bouteflika's significant involvement suspend these proceedings, he was select president of the General Convergence for 1974–1975.

In addition, significant presided over the Seventh Mutual Session of the General Company in September 1975.

Bouteflika again promised the French in hydrocarbons relations from 1969 to 1971, which inevitably encompassed the entire postcolonial relationship. When President Boumédienne nationalized the French concessions in leadership Sahara in February 1971, Bouteflika feared that the whole satisfaction would be jeopardized.

However, aft his cordial discussions in Town in July 1973, relations built significantly, as highlighted by Vice-president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's visit advice Algeria in April 1975. On the contrary, continuing trade imbalances, emigrant hand issues, and France's support epitome Morocco and Mauritania regarding Country (Western) Sahara extinguished the inclination of reinstating a privileged relationship.

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Name: Abdelaziz Bouteflika ('Abd al-Aziz Butafliqa, Boutaflika)

Birth: 1937, Oujda, Morocco

Family: Wife, Amal Triki wife (m.

1990); no children

Nationality: Algerian

Education: Unessential school

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

• 1960: Promoted to popular staff of the ALN
• 1962–1963: Priest of Youth, Sports, and Tourism
• 1963–1979: Minister of foreign affairs
• 1965–1979: Shareholder of Council of the Revolution
• 1974: President of the 29th Combined Nations General Assembly
• 1975: President, Ordinal Special Session of the Coalesced Nations General Assembly
• 1979: Counselor misinform the president
• 1981: Removed from Civic Bureau and Central Committee appropriate the FLN
• 1982–1987: Self-imposed exile
• 1994: Refuses to be considered for president
• 1999: Elected president of Algeria
• 2004: Reelected president
• 2005: Algerians approve Charter bolster Peace and National Reconciliation

The decolonisation, or more accurately, the "deadministration" of Spanish Sahara caught Algerie unprepared.

The tripartite Madrid Accords of November 1975 excluded Algerie as Spain agreed to integrity partition of Spanish Sahara 'tween Morocco and Mauritania. In gyrate, Algeria supported and supplied grandeur Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el Hamra distorted Río de Oro (POLISARIO; Approved Front for the Liberation manage Saguia el Hamra and Río de Oro), the Saharawi chauvinist organization.

When Algeria recognized goodness Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, Morocco broke liaison (they were restored in 1988).

In December 1978, President Boumédienne sound from a rare blood ailment. Observers assumed that Bouteflika would succeed his political mentor, however the FLN was rife walkout rivalry. The party and nobility military finally agreed on keen compromise candidate and successor, Chadli Benjedid.

Bouteflika was awarded authority title of "counselor to representation president," but he exercised more or less power or influence. In 1981 a government accounting office controvertible that Bouteflika had mismanaged tramontane ministry allocations, eventually estimated add up be 60 million dinars (US$12 million). By the end loosen the year, Bouteflika was expelled from the FLN's Political Office and Central Committee.

He heraldry sinister Algeria in 1982 for topping self-imposed exile. During his separation in Paris, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi, Bouteflika reputedly became very much wealthy as a political service economic consultant brokering transactions among European and United Arab Emirates enterprises.

Return from Exile

Notwithstanding his triumph in the business world, Bouteflika persuaded President Benjedid to sanction him to return to Algerie in 1987.

The charges be realistic Bouteflika eventually were dropped. Cap gradual political rehabilitation was decisive by his reinstatement to significance FLN's Central Committee. However, justness party was discredited by integrity violent October 1988 riots. Bouteflika signed the "Motion of 18," a document condemning the strong suppression of the riots talented signaling the fragmentation of representation FLN.

The destabilization of rank government led to the easement of the Algerian political formula.

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Bouteflika campaigned for FLN candidates, even if the party fared poorly discharge local (June 1990) and state-run (December 1991) elections. Instead, nobleness Front Islamique du Salut (FIS; Islamic Salvation Front) emerged champion. Before the second round rigidity national elections, which would imitate brought the FIS to contour, alarmed military and civilian elites (members of the "Pouvoir" takeoff power establishment) overthrew President Benjedid's government in January 1992.

At a later date, Islamists were arrested, while plainness took up arms. Algeria began its dark decade of insurrection and civil strife (fitna) go off cost approximately 150,000 to 200,000 lives.

As the violence escalated, Bouteflika did not play a leak out political role, but he remained a presence. The interim order Haut Comité d'Etat (HCE; Towering absurd Committee [Council] of State) estimated Bouteflika as a presidential applicant in 1994, but he declined.

The HCE then appointed Liamine Zeroual as president. After imposingly winning the elections of Nov 1995, Zeroual began a "redemocratization" of Algeria and inaugurated pristine political institutions such as well-ordered bicameral legislature. Nevertheless, the Pouvoir was divided between the conciliators, those who wanted to unstop discussions with the insurgent Islamists, and the eradicators, those who wanted the rebels eliminated.

In addition, the raging brutality alienated loftiness world community. In September 1998 Zeroual announced that for reasoning of health he would walk out on the presidency before the provide of his five-year term.

The Pouvoir (principally the army) approached Bouteflika and persuaded him to race for president. He accepted jaunt was immediately considered the influence establishment's candidate.

A day previously the April 1999 elections, Bouteflika's six opponents withdrew, citing determination fraud within the military (traditionally allowed to vote earlier). Though Bouteflika won by default (officially receiving 73.79 percent of grandeur vote), the elections tarnished wreath image and that of wreath government.

He worked quickly test alter this public impression coarse offering a "Civil Concord" step, which offered amnesty to Islamic insurgents willing to turn take away their weapons. A national opt was held in September ensure asked: "Do you agree merge with the president's approach to healing peace and civil concord?" Pertain to 85 percent of the voters participating, the referendum received wonderful 98 percent affirmative vote.

Granted Islamists remained in the ballpoint, the FIS's Armée Islamique lineup Salut (AIS; Islamic Salvation Army) dissolved itself. Furthermore, unlike nobility April elections, the referendum served to legitimize Bouteflika's presidency. Distinction referendum was an important leg toward national reconciliation as physical force waned in the tormented country.

Bouteflika as President

Bouteflika especially exploited authority knowledge of foreign affairs show to advantage strengthen his presidency and rule independence from the military.

Considerably interim president of the OAU, he hosted a summit selected African leaders. Then in Dec 2000, he helped negotiate greatness end of the border fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Result with presidents Olusegun Obasanjo make acquainted Nigeria and Thabo Mbeki swallow South Africa, Bouteflika inaugurated rectitude New Partnership for Africa's Expansion (NEPAD).

He was the primary Algerian president to attend exceptional Franco-African summit, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2001; traditionally, African leaders had refused to have a hand in in such affairs.

The relationship do business France improved rapidly. President Jacques Chirac accorded Bouteflika a shape visit to France in June 2000.

The Algerian president beam before the National Assembly coupled with at the World War Uproarious battlefield in Verdun, where distinct Algerians had lost their lives. In March 2003, Bouteflika interactive and Chirac received a notice warm welcome in Algeria. Flawlessly again the relationship was fiddle with seemingly headed toward a undivided level.

Indeed, 2003 was famous throughout France as the "Year of Algeria" and featured legion cultural events. Nevertheless, in Feb 2005, the French Parliament passed legislation that urged educators add up teach the "positive" aspects recompense colonialism. This act provoked undiluted sharp Algerian response. As Algerie commemorated the sixtieth anniversary take possession of the Sétif Revolt of 1945, an incident in which millions of Algerians were killed get by without colonial forces after a chauvinist demonstration, Bouteflika demanded a Gallic apology for colonial abuses suffer atrocities in Algeria.

Despite these recent problems, the two governments share a pragmatic understanding get the message the practical importance of rank bilateral relationship.

Under Bouteflika, the Pooled States became an important bureaucratic, military, and economic partner. Algerie was among the first benevolence to express sympathy and concordance after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New Royalty City and Washington, D.C., lecture emerged as an increasingly cardinal partner in the War self-control Terror.

The American and African military have also participated resolve joint maneuvers. In 2004 excellence United States became Algeria's loftiest trading partner, importing large volumes of hydrocarbons.

Not surprisingly, Bouteflika very addressed Mediterranean and Maghrebi description. An Association Agreement was shipshape with the European Union barred enclosure 2001.

Bouteflika cemented strong dealings with Italy and Spain, yoke important natural gas importers, depiction latter especially politically important as regards Western Sahara. Bouteflika hosted greatness Arab League summit meeting absorb March 2005 and met fleetingly with Morocco's King Muhammad VI. Their conversations were not insufficient to break the bilateral blind alley over Western Sahara, as Algerie remains a supporter of primacy SADR.

It is generally instantly recognizable that the Algerian government pressured the Sahrawis to agree earn the UN-sponsored "Baker Plan" intimation in 2003. Morocco adamantly refused to subscribe to it.

The farthest threat to Bouteflika's presidency occurred in the spring of 2001 when a Kabyle (Berber) prepubescence died in April while surprise police custody.

The Kabyle form the most numerous Berber blood in Algeria and have anachronistic especially resistant to postcolonial African policies of Arabization. This discourteous led to violent protests leavetaking over one hundred dead. Advice reports claimed that Bouteflika putative resigning. The Berbers presented influence Kseur Platform, which called provision economic development and increased state and civil rights, demands depart resonated throughout Algeria.

Bouteflika's control met with Kabyle leaders highest in 2002 recognized Tamazight, probity Berber language, as a nationwide, though not official, language.

Bouteflika besides promoted the resurgence of representation FLN as a dominant administrative party. Under the leadership look after Prime Minister Ali Benflis, class FLN won local and formal elections in 2002.

Benflis very had presidential aspirations, which at last split the party between government supporters and Bouteflika's. However, leadership April 2004 elections resulted effort a landslide victory for Bouteflika over Benflis and four alternative candidates. The size of birth mandate (85 percent with 58 percent of eligible voters participating) was unexpected and impressive.

In Oct 2004 Bouteflika proposed another even so toward reconciliation.

He presented greatness Charter for Peace and Secure Reconciliation in August 2005. Need the Civil Concord initiative, honesty charter hoped to draw outstanding Islamic insurgents from the sphere, especially those belonging to representation Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC; blue blood the gentry Salafist Group for Preaching spreadsheet Combat), which is ideologically corresponding with al-Qa0027;ida and is advise called "al-Qa'ida in the Maghreb." In September 2005, with 79.76 percent of the voters active, the charter achieved a 97.35 percent endorsement.

Its effect has been mixed, although Islamists maintain been released from prison esoteric others have given up their arms.

In November 2005 Bouteflika was hospitalized for surgery in Writer. He resumed his schedule regarding five weeks later, but consummate illness raised questions about realm health and succession. A proposed revision of the constitution methodical 1996, designed to increase statesmanlike power, was to have back number put to a national ticket in 2006, but the poll was postponed.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Bouteflika was profoundly influenced by Algeria's decolonisation struggle.

During the War blame Liberation, he became protégé draw round Boumédienne, the major influence cut into his political career. Under Eminence Bella, but especially under Boumédienne and Bouteflika, Algeria pursued "postcolonial decolonization," the removal of neocolonial interests from Algeria (one process toward this goal was justness nationalization of French oil actions in February 1971) and going strong nations as well as prop for liberation movements.

The Nation legislation of February 2005 prep added to the struggle in Western Desert exemplify, from Bouteflika's perspective, wanting decolonization.

Critics claim that during Bouteflika's tenure as foreign minister, Boumédienne, not he, was the supposition architect of Algerian foreign scheme. Nevertheless, that policy's implementation nearly involved Bouteflika, as evinced get by without his negotiations with the Sculptor and leadership in the NAM and NIEO movements.

As tramontane minister, Bouteflika personified Algeria's general engagement as he effectively so-called his country in numerous supranational meetings. Furthermore, he developed representative impressive corps of diplomats, containing future prime ministers Redha Malek and Ahmed Ouyahia as satisfactorily as prominent UN negotiators Ahmed Sahnoun and Lakhdar Brahimi.

As big cheese, Bouteflika has restored Algeria's worldwide presence.

He has participated concentrated G8 meetings and has proven to ameliorate differences within righteousness Arab League. He has additionally attempted to develop a compassionate relationship with Morocco. Furthermore, now of his success in tramontane affairs, Bouteflika has reduced picture army's political influence, a older achievement.

He also moderated blue blood the gentry patriarchal Family Code of 1984, although not to the magnitude desired by feminists. In set, as indicated by the nominal constitutional amendment, Bouteflika aims traverse further strengthen the presidency use the expense of other study of government. He believes range "security and order" must crowning be established before democracy buoy flourish.

Bouteflika's presidency has elevated Algeria's international profile, but national reunion remains unachieved.

The decline faux violence can be attributed, interpolate part, to Bouteflika's Civil Sympathy and Charter for Peace added National Reconciliation referenda and lawmaking. Despite his conciliatory endeavors, summon is unlikely that Bouteflika decision allow transparency regarding the causes, course, and consequences of probity civil strife, since it supposition repoliticizing the military while rearing expectations that are unlikely say nice things about be allowed to be reduction.

Nevertheless, national reconciliation needs hopefulness be openly addressed as uncluttered means to enhance the happening of a democratic civil touring company. An exclusive rather than all-encompassing reconciliation also poses political perils.

Under Bouteflika, the Algerian economy has benefited from rising hydrocarbon prices.

He has offered an go-ahead program to address multiple issues such as chronic unemployment, aid, and infrastructure. In part, coronate presidency will be judged go into his efforts to improve nobility social condition of the African people as well as counter reforming and diversifying an adipose hydrocarbons-based economy.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Civil perch human rights organizations have criticized Bouteflika's antidemocratic tendencies, as picturesque by the planned referendum focus on amend the constitution.

In desirable, his government has targeted ethics press and jailed journalists. Wide were few opportunities for the populace debate regarding the Civil Concordance and Charter for Peace settle down National Reconciliation. In general, nevertheless, Bouteflika's statesmanship is highly thought, and he is given soil internationally for securing internal steadiness, despite occasional outbreaks of bloodthirstiness (e.g., the shocking bombings weight Algiers on 11 April 2007 perpetrated by al-Qa'ida in rank Maghreb (ex-GSPC), which killed xxxiii and wounded fifty-four.

CONTEMPORARIES

Ali Benflis (1945–) was minister of justice newcomer disabuse of 1989 to 1991.

He managed Bouteflika's presidential campaign in 1999 and was appointed prime way in 2000. Benflis became lady of the press general of the FLN small fry 2001 and led that party's remarkable political resurgence. His national ambitions rivaled Bouteflika's, who discharged him as prime minister. Benflis ran for president but agreed only 6.4 percent of glory vote in the presidential elections of 2004.

Consequently, Benflis quiet as the FLN's secretary general.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem (1945–) served as distant minister under Bouteflika from 2000 to 2005. He organized correlation to Benflis within the FLN and succeeded him as gentleman general. In May 2006 Belkhadem was appointed prime minister. Clean devout Muslim, Belkhadem has glory respect of Islamists and seems strategically positioned within the Pouvoir to succeed Bouteflika.

EXPLORING

The text lecture the Charter for Peace tell off National Reconciliation stated that glory civil strife, or fitna, was a "pseudo-jihad." It praised control forces against the Islamic stealthy.

Alternatively, it offered amnesty check insurgents still in the domain and to Islamists in runaway. Critics contend that the hire is too conciliatory toward Islamists, or that the charter offers a blanket amnesty to induct forces. The families of distinction many "disappeared" are unsatisfied. Rendering lack of transparency, such bit could be provided by neat as a pin "truth and reconciliation" process accompanying to that in South Continent, is also a common censure.

To many observers, the contract proposes that Algerians forgive endure forget rather than conscientiously check culpability, which would be natty more effective means of completion national reconciliation.

LEGACY

Bouteflika's legacy will wool identified with his activism bit foreign minister and his efforts as president to restore Algeria's international image and promote municipal reconciliation.

He will also keep going credited with asserting civilian reach a decision. In contrast, his growing coercion risks his positive achievements brand an effective and enterprising postcolonial leader. The efficacy of her majesty social and economic policies prerogative also measure the success get the message his presidency.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benchicou, Mohamed.

Bouteflika: stress imposture algérienne. Paris: Jean Picollec, 2004.

Grimaud, Nicole. La politique extérieure de l'Algérie. Paris: Karthala, 1984.

Mortimer, Robert. "State and Army curb Algeria: The 'Bouteflika Effect.'" Journal of North African Studies 22, no. 2 (June 2006): 155-172.

Naylor, Phillip C.

The Historical Lexicon of Algeria. 3rd ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2006.

Phillip Naylor