Algeria is now in uncharted waters. After numerous attempts by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, or those around him, to cling to power, the 82-year old veteran of Algeria’s independence struggle finally caved in on 2 April.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah’s calls for constitutional council to declare the wheelchair-bound Mr Bouteflika unfit for office (MEES, 29 March). Knowing his days were numbered the president took matters into his own hands. (CONTINUED - 608 WORDS)