The President's Man

The late-May replacement of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahya by Abdelaziz Belkhadem suggests that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is attempting to expand his own control over Algerian politics. The move should lend the government some Islamist and populist support at a time of heavy resentment at widespread deprivation despite high oil revenues. However Bouteflika needs to be careful not to alienate the security establishment or other power-wielders, especially given the underwhelming effects so far of his amnesty plan on the continuing violence.

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