Algeria’s powerful army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah dies
- Gaid Salah was seen as Algeria’s de facto strongman following the resignation of president Bouteflika in the face of protests against his bid for a fifth term
- Land forces commander General Said Chengriha was appointed as interim military chief of staff
Algeria’s powerful army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah has died of a heart attack at age 79, state television reported on Monday.
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 months-long protest movement that has demanded deep-rooted political reforms before any poll.
“The deputy defence minister and chief of staff of the army died Monday 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.