Algeria’s newly elected Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad appointed a new government on Thursday, reported Reuters. The new cabinet is composed of 39 members.
The new Algerian government includes Abderrahmane Raouia, who has been re-appointed finance minister, after previously serving in that post from 2017 until last March, when he was replaced, and President Abdelmajdid Tebboune will act as defence minister as the president traditionally serves the position in Algeria.
Sabri Boukadoum will continue to serve as Foreign Minister, Kamel Beldjoud as Interior Minister, and Mohamed Arkab as Energy Minister.
The deputy defense minister post has not yet been filled. It was previously held by Ahmed Gaid Salah until his death of a heart attack at age 79 last week. Five women have been appointed to government positions.
President Tebboune, who was elected in a controversial election last month, appointed Djerad as Algeria’s new prime minister on Saturday replacing Sabri Boukadoum, who had been the acting prime minister after the resignation of Nouredine Bedoui.
Mass protests that erupted in February dethroned veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April. The protests have since then continued demanding a complete political overhaul.
The December election was marred by an official turnout of less than 40 percent, with a months-long protest movement boycotting a vote they viewed as a plan of the establishment to consolidate its power.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Algerian government released a prominent opposition activist who was jailed during the mass protests. Lakhdar Bouregaa’s release comes after being in detention for the past six months.
“His trial, which was due to start this (Thursday) morning, has been postponed and the judge has decided to release him,” Bouregaa’s lawyer Abdelghani Badi said.
He was arrested at his home in the capital, Algiers, in June for “insulting a state body” and “taking part in a scheme to demoralize the army with the aim of harming the nation’s defence”.
