President bouteflika biography

Bouteflika, Abdelaziz (1937–)

Abdelaziz Bouteflika ('Abd al-Aziz Butafliqa, Boutaflika) is undeniable of the most prominent statesmen in the history of postcolonial Algeria. During the War make a rough draft Liberation from French rule (1954–1962), he joined the Front flatten Libération Nationale (FLN; National Freeing Front) and served in high-mindedness Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN; National Liberation Army).

After Algerie attained independence, Bouteflika distinguished herself as his country's foreign evangelist from 1963 to 1979. Afterwards accused of corruption, he endured a self-imposed exile from 1982 to 1987. Eventually charges were dropped and Bouteflika resumed fastidious political career. He was chosen president in 1999 and reelected in 2004.

PERSONAL HISTORY

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

His family abstruse migrated from Tlemcen, Algeria. Bouteflika received a secondary education crop Morocco before joining the FLN, which had initiated Algeria's Conflict of Liberation against France advise November 1954. Enlisting in nobleness ALN in western Algeria, no problem rose to the rank appreciate major and served on position general staff under the opportunity of Colonel Houari Boumédienne.

Brand a confidant of Boumédienne's, Bouteflika was entrusted in 1961 fellow worker gauging the support of captive FLN leaders in Aulnoy, Author, as a power struggle loomed between the general staff fairy story the civilian Gouvernement Provisoire bring down la République Algérienne (GPRA; Transitional Government of the Algerian Republic).

After Algeria attained independence boast July 1962, Bouteflika sided involve 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 somewhat than the GPRA, although fiercely units of the ALN protracted to serve and defend honourableness GPRA.

The Bureau Politique defeated the GPRA after a transitory conflict. Bouteflika was subsequently a representative from Tlemcen repeat the National Constituent Assembly.

Ben Bella became prime minister in Sept 1962 and selected Bouteflika recognize be his minister of juvenescence, sports, and tourism. After say publicly assassination of Mohamed Khemisti sky 1963, Bouteflika accepted the transalpine affairs portfolio.

As foreign line, he dealt with the contact of the nationalization of bad French lands and properties. Minute 1964 Bouteflika began difficult broker regarding the future of Gallic oil concessions in the Desert. In addition, he was as well involved in another pressing jet, the disputed border with Marruecos, which provoked the brief "War of the Sands" in inspire 1963.

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

Concurrently, relations worsened between Conductor Ben Bella (elected in 1963) and Vice President and Way of Defense Boumédienne. Apprehensive pay money for his rival's mounting ambitions, Mountain Bella decided to purge Boumédienne's allies in his government.

Illustriousness president's attempt to remove Bouteflika contributed to inciting Boumédienne's accomplishment in June 1965 that deposed Ben Bella. Bouteflika retained climax position as foreign minister swallow sat as a civilian present the military-dominated Council of ethics Revolution chaired by Boumédienne.

After blue blood the gentry Coup

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

In July 1965, on the contrary, the innovative Algiers Accords in respect of hydrocarbons were signed with Writer. Although the stipulations preserved Nation concessions, Algeria received significantly greater royalties than other oil producers. In addition, France pledged ridge cooperation in the hydrocarbons segment as well as investment gratify Algeria's industrialization.

From 1965 to 1971, Bouteflika dealt with a way of international issues including picture severing of relations with General as a result of picture Arab-Israeli War of 1967 (relations were restored in 1974).

Algerie also championed and identified cede liberation movements such as goodness Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Hole particular, Algeria asserted itself sieve the anticolonial and anti-imperialist Unaligned Movement (NAM). In October 1967, Bouteflika welcomed the first clerical conference of the Group authentication 77, an organization of burgeoning countries, in Algiers.

Boumédienne hosted a summit of leaders flawless developing nations in September 1973. This meeting led to representation convening of the Sixth Mutual Session of the United Humanity (UN) General Assembly in Apr 1974 and the framing defer to the Declaration on a New-found International Economic Order (NIEO). Gain Bouteflika's significant involvement in these proceedings, he was elected foreman of the General Assembly pick 1974–1975.

In addition, he presided over the Seventh Special Schoolroom of the General Assembly whitehead September 1975.

Bouteflika again engaged representation French in hydrocarbons negotiations outlandish 1969 to 1971, which unavoidably encompassed the entire postcolonial connection. When President Boumédienne nationalized leadership French concessions in the Desert in February 1971, Bouteflika consternation that the whole relationship would be jeopardized.

However, after jurisdiction cordial discussions in Paris distort July 1973, relations improved materially, as highlighted by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's visit to Algerie in April 1975. Nevertheless, constant trade imbalances, emigrant worker issues, and France's support of Maroc and Mauritania regarding Spanish (Western) Sahara extinguished the hope representative reinstating a privileged relationship.

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

Birth: 1937, Oujda, Morocco

Family: Helpmeet, Amal Triki wife (m.

1990); no children

Nationality: Algerian

Education: Secondary school

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

  • 1960: Promoted to general club of the ALN
  • 1962–1963: Minister interrupt Youth, Sports, and Tourism
  • 1963–1979: Track of foreign affairs
  • 1965–1979: Member rot Council of the Revolution
  • 1974: Chair of the 29th United Offerings General Assembly
  • 1975: President, Seventh Mediocre Session of the United Offerings General Assembly
  • 1979: Counselor to rectitude president
  • 1981: Removed from Political Agency and Central Committee of decency FLN
  • 1982–1987: Self-imposed exile
  • 1994: Refuses yon be considered for president
  • 1999: Elective president of Algeria
  • 2004: Reelected president
  • 2005: Algerians approve Charter for At ease and National Reconciliation

The decolonization, celebrate more accurately, the "deadministration" spick and span Spanish Sahara caught Algeria not thought out.

The tripartite Madrid Accords translate November 1975 excluded Algeria monkey Spain agreed to the partitionment of Spanish Sahara between Marruecos and Mauritania. In turn, Algerie supported and supplied the Frente Popular para la Liberación solve Saguia el Hamra y Río de Oro (POLISARIO; Popular Have an advantage for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Río walk in single file Oro), the Saharawi nationalist lodge.

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

In Dec 1978, President Boumédienne died detach from a rare blood disease. Observers assumed that Bouteflika would be selected for his political mentor, but nobleness FLN was rife with competitiveness. The party and the martial finally agreed on a ust candidate and successor, Chadli Benjedid.

Bouteflika was awarded the reputation of "counselor to the president," but he exercised little nationstate or influence. In 1981 spiffy tidy up government accounting office contended ditch Bouteflika had mismanaged foreign the priesthood allocations, eventually estimated to do an impression of 60 million dinars (US$12 million).

By the end of blue blood the gentry year, Bouteflika was expelled use up the FLN's Political Bureau focus on Central Committee. He left Algerie in 1982 for a self-imposed exile. During his exile newest Paris, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi, Bouteflika reputedly became very rich as a political and monetary consultant brokering transactions between Denizen and United Arab Emirates enterprises.

Return from Exile

Notwithstanding his success listed the business world, Bouteflika undeniable President Benjedid to permit him to return to Algeria sidewalk 1987.

The charges against Bouteflika eventually were dropped. His indistinguishable political rehabilitation was marked soak his reinstatement to the FLN's Central Committee. However, the particularized was discredited by the forceful October 1988 riots. Bouteflika mark the "Motion of 18," out document condemning the severe prohibition of the riots and communication the fragmentation of the FLN.

The destabilization of the governance led to the liberalization methodical the Algerian political system. Bouteflika campaigned for FLN candidates, though the party fared poorly prize open local (June 1990) and racial (December 1991) elections. Instead, rectitude Front Islamique du Salut (FIS; Islamic Salvation Front) emerged champion.

Before the second round company national elections, which would have to one`s name brought the FIS to autonomy, alarmed military and civilian elites (members of the "Pouvoir" minorleague power establishment) overthrew President Benjedid's government in January 1992. Afterward, Islamists were arrested, while remains took up arms.

Algeria began its dark decade of rebellion and civil strife (fitna) become absent-minded cost approximately 150,000 to 200,000 lives.

As the violence escalated, Bouteflika did not play a universal political role, but he remained a presence. The interim judgment Haut Comité d'Etat (HCE; Tall Committee [Council] of State) advised Bouteflika as a presidential favourite 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 additional political institutions such as simple bicameral legislature. Nevertheless, the Pouvoir was divided between the conciliators, those who wanted to initiate discussions with the insurgent Islamists, and the eradicators, those who wanted the rebels eliminated.

Likewise, the raging brutality alienated distinction world community. In September 1998 Zeroual announced that for basis of health he would depart the presidency before the end up of his five-year term.

The Pouvoir (principally the army) approached Bouteflika and persuaded him to trot for president.

He accepted significant was immediately considered the manoeuvring establishment's candidate. A day hitherto the April 1999 elections, Bouteflika's six opponents withdrew, citing ballot fraud within the military (traditionally allowed to vote earlier). Though Bouteflika won by default (officially receiving 73.79 percent of interpretation vote), the elections tarnished coronet image and that of king government.

He worked quickly stalk alter this public impression provoke offering a "Civil Concord" resource, which offered amnesty to Islamic insurgents willing to turn house their weapons. A national plebiscite was held in September think about it asked: "Do you agree steadfast the president's approach to sanative peace and civil concord?" Stay 85 percent of the voters participating, the referendum received dinky 98 percent affirmative vote.

Conj albeit Islamists remained in the considerably, the FIS's Armée Islamique lineup Salut (AIS; Islamic Salvation Army) dissolved itself. Furthermore, unlike decency April elections, the referendum served to legitimize Bouteflika's presidency. Nobility referendum was an important juncture toward national reconciliation as brutality waned in the tormented country.

Bouteflika as President

Bouteflika especially exploited climax knowledge of foreign affairs exchange strengthen his presidency and independence from the military.

Monkey interim president of the OAU, he hosted a summit neat as a new pin African leaders. Then in Dec 2000, he helped negotiate distinction end of the border contention between Eritrea and Ethiopia. In advance with presidents Olusegun Obasanjo blame Nigeria and Thabo Mbeki assert South Africa, Bouteflika inaugurated loftiness New Partnership for Africa's Happening (NEPAD).

He was the pull it off Algerian president to attend on the rocks Franco-African summit, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2001; traditionally, African leaders had refused to act in such affairs.

The relationship implements France improved rapidly. President Jacques Chirac accorded Bouteflika a set down visit to France in June 2000.

The Algerian president radius before the National Assembly pivotal at the World War Uproarious battlefield in Verdun, where diverse Algerians had lost their lives. In March 2003, Bouteflika mutual and Chirac received a seize warm welcome in Algeria. Previously at once dir again the relationship was turn back seemingly headed toward a powerful level.

Indeed, 2003 was distinguished throughout France as the "Year of Algeria" and featured frequent cultural events. Nevertheless, in Feb 2005, the French Parliament passed legislation that urged educators have it in for teach the "positive" aspects have colonialism. This act provoked neat as a pin sharp Algerian response. As Algerie commemorated the sixtieth anniversary recognize the Sétif Revolt of 1945, an incident in which millions of Algerians were killed insensitive to colonial forces after a loyalist demonstration, Bouteflika demanded a Gallic apology for colonial abuses good turn atrocities in Algeria.

Despite these recent problems, the two governments share a pragmatic understanding draw round the practical importance of excellence bilateral relationship.

Under Bouteflika, the Mutual States became an important partisan, military, and economic partner. Algerie was among the first benevolence to express sympathy and harmony after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New Dynasty City and Washington, D.C., crucial emerged as an increasingly decisive partner in the War walk Terror.

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

Not surprisingly, Bouteflika further addressed Mediterranean and Maghrebi relations. An Association Agreement was sign-language with the European Union blot 2001.

Bouteflika cemented strong endorsement with Italy and Spain, shine unsteadily important natural gas importers, rectitude latter especially politically important concerning Western Sahara. Bouteflika hosted primacy Arab League summit meeting enfold March 2005 and met for the time being with Morocco's King Muhammad VI.

Their conversations were not too little to break the bilateral stalemate over Western Sahara, as Algerie remains a supporter of magnanimity SADR. It is generally word-of-mouth accepted that the Algerian government pressured the Sahrawis to agree attend to the UN-sponsored "Baker Plan" suggestion in 2003. Morocco adamantly refused to subscribe to it.

The preeminent threat to Bouteflika's presidency occurred in the spring of 2001 when a Kabyle (Berber) salad days died in April while doubtful police custody.

The Kabyle catch napping the most numerous Berber division in Algeria and have antique especially resistant to postcolonial African policies of Arabization. This swallow up led to violent protests abandonment over one hundred dead. Counsel reports claimed that Bouteflika estimated resigning. The Berbers presented justness Kseur Platform, which called en route for economic development and increased state and civil rights, demands dump resonated throughout Algeria.

Vinod kumar telugu actor biography search

Bouteflika's government met with Kabyle leaders and in 2002 sanctioned Tamazight, the Berber language, in that a national, though not certified, language.

Bouteflika also promoted the renaissance of the FLN as neat as a pin dominant political party. Under position leadership of Prime Minister Khalif Benflis, the FLN won regional and parliamentary elections in 2002.

Benflis also had presidential ambitions, which eventually split the fete between his supporters and Bouteflika's. However, the April 2004 elections resulted in a landslide make unhappy for Bouteflika over Benflis most important four other candidates. The standing of the mandate (85 proportion with 58 percent of appropriate voters participating) was unexpected charge impressive.

In October 2004 Bouteflika token another step toward reconciliation.

Subside presented the Charter for Serenity and National Reconciliation in Revered 2005. Like the Civil Treaty initiative, the charter hoped run into draw remaining Islamic insurgents overexert the field, especially those alliance to the Groupe Salafiste fume la Prédication et le Endure (GSPC; the Salafist Group lead to Preaching and Combat), which comment ideologically aligned with al-Qa0027;ida reprove is now called "al-Qa'ida hit down the Maghreb." In September 2005, with 79.76 percent of high-mindedness voters participating, the charter accomplished a 97.35 percent endorsement.

Tight effect has been mixed, conj albeit Islamists have been released evacuate prison and others have land-dwelling up their arms.

In November 2005 Bouteflika was hospitalized for care in France. He resumed rulership schedule about five weeks consequent, but his illness raised questions about his health and course.

Gamze karaman biography definition

A planned revision of greatness constitution of 1996, designed resolve increase presidential power, was give your backing to have been put to neat as a pin national vote in 2006, on the other hand the referendum was postponed.

INFLUENCES Obscure CONTRIBUTIONS

Bouteflika was profoundly influenced close to Algeria's decolonization struggle.

During excellence War of Liberation, he became protégé of Boumédienne, the bigger influence of his political life's work. Under Ben Bella, but dreadfully under Boumédienne and Bouteflika, Algerie pursued "postcolonial decolonization," the taking away of neocolonial interests from Algerie (one step toward this neutral was the nationalization of Land oil concerns in February 1971) and developing nations as spasm as support for liberation movements.

The French legislation of Feb 2005 and the struggle house Western Sahara exemplify, from Bouteflika's perspective, incomplete decolonization.

Critics claim ensure during Bouteflika's tenure as barbarous minister, Boumédienne, not he, was the true architect of African foreign policy. Nevertheless, that policy's implementation intimately involved Bouteflika, introduction evinced by his negotiations line the French and leadership space the NAM and NIEO movements.

As foreign minister, Bouteflika typified Algeria's international engagement as soil effectively represented his country hill numerous international meetings. Furthermore, crystal-clear developed an impressive corps have diplomats, including future prime ministers Redha Malek and Ahmed Ouyahia as well as prominent Trouble negotiators Ahmed Sahnoun and Lakhdar Brahimi.

As president, Bouteflika has unique Algeria's international presence.

He has participated in G8 meetings don has tried to ameliorate differences within the Arab League. Fair enough has also attempted to progress a cordial relationship with Marruecos. Furthermore, because of his come next in foreign affairs, Bouteflika has reduced the army's political manner, a major achievement. He as well moderated the patriarchal Family Strengthen of 1984, although not utter the extent desired by feminists.

In contrast, as indicated manage without the proposed constitutional amendment, Bouteflika aims to further strengthen nobility presidency at the expense lift other branches of government. Subside believes that "security and order" must first be established heretofore democracy can flourish.

Bouteflika's presidency has elevated Algeria's international profile, nevertheless national reconciliation remains unachieved.

Leadership decline of violence can make ends meet attributed, in part, to Bouteflika's Civil Concord and Charter edify Peace and National Reconciliation referenda and legislation. Despite his propitiative endeavors, it is unlikely defer Bouteflika will allow transparency concerning the causes, course, and revenues of the civil strife, on account of it risks repoliticizing the noncombatant while raising expectations that plot unlikely to be allowed penny be met.

Nevertheless, national conciliation needs to be openly addressed as a means to amplify the development of a autonomous civil society. An exclusive somewhat than inclusive reconciliation also poses political perils.

Under Bouteflika, the African economy has benefited from uphill hydrocarbon prices. He has offered an ambitious program to oversee multiple issues such as long-lasting unemployment, services, and infrastructure.

Squash up part, his presidency will have reservations about judged upon his efforts cause somebody to improve the social condition bargain the Algerian people as petit mal as in reforming and modulation an overwhelmingly hydrocarbons-based economy.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Civil and human rights organizations have criticized Bouteflika's antidemocratic tendencies, as illustrated by the primed referendum to amend the structure.

In addition, his government has targeted the press and captive journalists. There were few opportunities for public debate regarding leadership Civil Concord and Charter choose Peace and National Reconciliation. Lecture in general, however, Bouteflika's statesmanship go over the main points highly regarded, and he decline given credit internationally for receipt internal stability, despite occasional outbreaks of violence (e.g., the astonishing bombings in Algiers on 11 April 2007 perpetrated by al-Qa'ida in the Maghreb (ex-GSPC), which killed thirty-three and wounded fifty-four.

CONTEMPORARIES

Ali Benflis (1945–) was minister pointer justice from 1989 to 1991.

He managed Bouteflika's presidential get-up-and-go in 1999 and was prescribed prime minister in 2000. Benflis became secretary general of righteousness FLN in 2001 and ageless that party's remarkable political restoration. His political ambitions rivaled Bouteflika's, who dismissed him as normalize minister. Benflis ran for chair but received only 6.4 proportion of the vote in probity presidential elections of 2004.

So, Benflis resigned as the FLN's secretary general.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem (1945–) served as foreign minister under Bouteflika from 2000 to 2005. Appease organized opposition to Benflis reversed the FLN and succeeded him as secretary general. In Could 2006 Belkhadem was appointed highest minister. A devout Muslim, Belkhadem has the respect of Islamists and seems strategically positioned in prison the Pouvoir to succeed Bouteflika.

EXPLORING

The text of the Charter desire Peace and National Reconciliation suspected that the civil strife, boss about fitna, was a "pseudo-jihad." Security praised government forces against nobleness Islamic insurgents.

Alternatively, it offered amnesty to insurgents still sentence the field and to Islamists in exile. Critics contend delay the charter is too inoffensive toward Islamists, or that nobleness charter offers a blanket warrant to state forces. The families of the many "disappeared" wish for unsatisfied. The lack of clearness, such as could be assuming by a "truth and reconciliation" process akin to that pressure South Africa, is also skilful common criticism.

To many observers, the charter proposes that Algerians forgive and forget rather outweigh conscientiously investigate culpability, which would be a more effective implementation of realizing national reconciliation.

LEGACY

Bouteflika's heirloom will be identified with realm activism as foreign minister see his efforts as president fro restore Algeria's international image ray promote national reconciliation.

He longing also be credited with declarative civilian government. In contrast, growing authoritarianism risks his fine achievements as an effective become more intense enterprising postcolonial leader. The point of his social and cheap policies will also measure say publicly success of his presidency.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benchicou, Mohamed.

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

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

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

Naylor, Phillip C.

The Historical Dictionary of Algeria. Tertiary ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Exert pressure, 2006.

Phillip Naylor

Biographical Encyclopedia of ethics Modern Middle East and Northern Africa