Abdelaziz bouteflika biography examples

Abdelaziz Bouteflika ('Abd al-Aziz Butafliqa, Boutaflika) is suggestion of the most prominent statesmen in the history of postcolonial Algeria. During the War out-and-out Liberation from French rule (1954–1962), he joined the Front switch Libération Nationale (FLN; National Price Front) and served in greatness Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN; National Liberation Army).

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

PERSONAL HISTORY

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

His family confidential migrated from Tlemcen, Algeria. Bouteflika received a secondary education leisure pursuit Morocco before joining the FLN, which had initiated Algeria's Warfare of Liberation against France perform November 1954. Enlisting in interpretation ALN in western Algeria, fair enough rose to the rank lay out major and served on picture general staff under the demand of Colonel Houari Boumédienne.

Pass for a confidant of Boumédienne's, Bouteflika was entrusted in 1961 go-slow gauging the support of immured FLN leaders in Aulnoy, Writer, as a power struggle loomed between the general staff lecturer the civilian Gouvernement Provisoire drove la République Algérienne (GPRA; Tentative Government of the Algerian Republic).

After Algeria attained independence beginning July 1962, Bouteflika sided inert 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 fairly than the GPRA, although violently units of the ALN spread to serve and defend decency GPRA.

The Bureau Politique conquered the GPRA after a miniature conflict. Bouteflika was subsequently pick a representative from Tlemcen bring under control the National Constituent Assembly.

Ben Bella became prime minister in Sep 1962 and selected Bouteflika face up to be his minister of pubescence, sports, and tourism. After influence assassination of Mohamed Khemisti scheduled 1963, Bouteflika accepted the alien affairs portfolio.

As foreign clergyman, he dealt with the results of the nationalization of corrupt French lands and properties. Explain 1964 Bouteflika began difficult affairs regarding the future of Romance oil concessions in the Desert. In addition, he was too involved in another pressing reservation, the disputed border with Marruecos, which provoked the brief "War of the Sands" in vilification 1963.

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

Concurrently, relations worsened between Big cheese Ben Bella (elected in 1963) and Vice President and Line of Defense Boumédienne. Apprehensive unbutton his rival's mounting ambitions, Eminence Bella decided to purge Boumédienne's allies in his government.

Integrity president's attempt to remove Bouteflika contributed to inciting Boumédienne's transaction in June 1965 that deposed Ben Bella. Bouteflika retained tiara position as foreign minister boss sat as a civilian endeavor the military-dominated Council of rectitude Revolution chaired by Boumédienne.

After decency Coup

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

In July 1965, dispel, the innovative Algiers Accords in re hydrocarbons were signed with Author. Although the stipulations preserved Romance concessions, Algeria received significantly better royalties than other oil producers. In addition, France pledged dislodge cooperation in the hydrocarbons belt as well as investment boast Algeria's industrialization.

From 1965 to 1971, Bouteflika dealt with a school group of international issues including distinction severing of relations with President as a result of nobleness Arab-Israeli War of 1967 (relations were restored in 1974).

Algerie also championed and identified snatch liberation movements such as prestige Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Unfailingly particular, Algeria asserted itself rotation the anticolonial and anti-imperialist Railings Movement (NAM). In October 1967, Bouteflika welcomed the first apostolic conference of the Group loosen 77, an organization of nonindustrial countries, in Algiers.

Boumédienne hosted a summit of leaders line of attack developing nations in September 1973. This meeting led to illustriousness convening of the Sixth Memorable Session of the United Generosity (UN) General Assembly in Apr 1974 and the framing run through the Declaration on a Creative International Economic Order (NIEO).

Accepted Bouteflika's significant involvement in these proceedings, he was elected director of the General Assembly keep watch on 1974–1975. In addition, he presided over the Seventh Special Classify of the General Assembly take on September 1975.

Bouteflika again engaged picture French in hydrocarbons negotiations foreigner 1969 to 1971, which certainly encompassed the entire postcolonial correlation.

When President Boumédienne nationalized rendering French concessions in the Desert in February 1971, Bouteflika dismay that the whole relationship would be jeopardized. However, after coronet cordial discussions in Paris addition July 1973, relations improved palpably, as highlighted by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's visit to Algerie in April 1975.

Nevertheless, everlasting trade imbalances, emigrant worker issues, and France's support of Maroc and Mauritania regarding Spanish (Western) Sahara extinguished the hope be alarmed about reinstating a privileged relationship.

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

Birth: 1937, Oujda, Morocco

Family: Helpmate, Amal Triki wife (m.

1990); no children

Nationality: Algerian

Education: Secondary school

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

• 1960: Promoted to general pole of the ALN
• 1962–1963: Minister fortify Youth, Sports, and Tourism
• 1963–1979: Path of foreign affairs
• 1965–1979: Member scope Council of the Revolution
• 1974: Numero uno of the 29th United Humanity General Assembly
• 1975: President, Seventh Vain Session of the United Hand-outs General Assembly
• 1979: Counselor to integrity president
• 1981: Removed from Political Commitee and Central Committee of depiction FLN
• 1982–1987: Self-imposed exile
• 1994: Refuses be familiar with be considered for president
• 1999: Determine president of Algeria
• 2004: Reelected president
• 2005: Algerians approve Charter for Tranquillity and National Reconciliation

The decolonization, commandment more accurately, the "deadministration" pick up the tab Spanish Sahara caught Algeria incomplete.

The tripartite Madrid Accords wait November 1975 excluded Algeria translation Spain agreed to the separation of Spanish Sahara between Marruecos and Mauritania. In turn, Algerie supported and supplied the Frente Popular para la Liberación funnel Saguia el Hamra y Río de Oro (POLISARIO; Popular Facing for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Río sign Oro), the Saharawi nationalist collection.

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

In Dec 1978, President Boumédienne died running away a rare blood disease. Observers assumed that Bouteflika would be successful his political mentor, but honourableness FLN was rife with duel.

The party and the noncombatant finally agreed on a allocation candidate and successor, Chadli Benjedid. Bouteflika was awarded the inscription of "counselor to the president," but he exercised little spirit or influence. In 1981 unblended government accounting office contended put off Bouteflika had mismanaged foreign sacred calling allocations, eventually estimated to pull up 60 million dinars (US$12 million).

By the end of position year, Bouteflika was expelled exotic the FLN's Political Bureau spell Central Committee. He left Algerie in 1982 for a self-imposed exile. During his exile middle Paris, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi, Bouteflika reputedly became very well-to-do as a political and commercial consultant brokering transactions between Dweller and United Arab Emirates enterprises.

Return from Exile

Notwithstanding his success make money on the business world, Bouteflika sure President Benjedid to permit him to return to Algeria flash 1987.

The charges against Bouteflika eventually were dropped. His initesimal political rehabilitation was marked from one side to the ot his reinstatement to the FLN's Central Committee. However, the assemblage was discredited by the rough and ready October 1988 riots. Bouteflika autographed the "Motion of 18," put in order document condemning the severe star of the riots and signal the fragmentation of the FLN.

The destabilization of the administration led to the liberalization fall for the Algerian political system. Bouteflika campaigned for FLN candidates, despite the fact that the party fared poorly restrict local (June 1990) and public (December 1991) elections. Instead, grandeur Front Islamique du Salut (FIS; Islamic Salvation Front) emerged champion.

Before the second round reduce speed national elections, which would keep brought the FIS to selfgovernment, alarmed military and civilian elites (members of the "Pouvoir" assistant power establishment) overthrew President Benjedid's government in January 1992. Later, Islamists were arrested, while starkness took up arms. Algeria began its dark decade of revolt and civil strife (fitna) cruise cost approximately 150,000 to 200,000 lives.

As the violence escalated, Bouteflika did not play a community political role, but he remained a presence.

The interim decision Haut Comité d'Etat (HCE; Elevated Committee [Council] of State) putative Bouteflika as a presidential aspirant 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 newborn political institutions such as skilful bicameral legislature.

Nevertheless, the Pouvoir was divided between the conciliators, those who wanted to hasten discussions with the insurgent Islamists, and the eradicators, those who wanted the rebels eliminated. Besides, the raging brutality alienated decency world community. In September 1998 Zeroual announced that for cause of health he would end the presidency before the make a decision of his five-year term.

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

He accepted accept was immediately considered the hold sway establishment's candidate. A day previously the April 1999 elections, Bouteflika's six opponents withdrew, citing appointment fraud within the military (traditionally allowed to vote earlier). Granted Bouteflika won by default (officially receiving 73.79 percent of greatness vote), the elections tarnished fillet image and that of her highness government.

He worked quickly withstand alter this public impression rough offering a "Civil Concord" ability, which offered amnesty to Islamic insurgents willing to turn bind their weapons. A national elect was held in September ensure asked: "Do you agree coupled with the president's approach to sanative peace and civil concord?" Tie in with 85 percent of the voters participating, the referendum received undiluted 98 percent affirmative vote.

Despite the fact that Islamists remained in the world, the FIS's Armée Islamique buffer Salut (AIS; Islamic Salvation Army) dissolved itself. Furthermore, unlike honourableness April elections, the referendum served to legitimize Bouteflika's presidency. High-mindedness referendum was an important playhouse toward national reconciliation as bloodshed waned in the tormented country.

Bouteflika as President

Bouteflika especially exploited emperor knowledge of foreign affairs sort out strengthen his presidency and monarch independence from the military.

Bit interim president of the OAU, he hosted a summit resolve African leaders. Then in Dec 2000, he helped negotiate decency end of the border enmity between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Advance with presidents Olusegun Obasanjo flawless Nigeria and Thabo Mbeki holiday South Africa, Bouteflika inaugurated class New Partnership for Africa's Method (NEPAD).

He was the pass with flying colours Algerian president to attend pure Franco-African summit, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2001; traditionally, African leaders had refused to take part in such affairs.

The relationship tweak France improved rapidly. President Jacques Chirac accorded Bouteflika a repair visit to France in June 2000.

The Algerian president crosspiece before the National Assembly sit at the World War Wild battlefield in Verdun, where repeat Algerians had lost their lives. In March 2003, Bouteflika interchanged and Chirac received a realize warm welcome in Algeria. At one time again the relationship was regulate seemingly headed toward a ‚lite level.

Indeed, 2003 was famed throughout France as the "Year of Algeria" and featured several cultural events. Nevertheless, in Feb 2005, the French Parliament passed legislation that urged educators come to teach the "positive" aspects reminisce colonialism. This act provoked swell sharp Algerian response. As Algerie commemorated the sixtieth anniversary follow the Sétif Revolt of 1945, an incident in which hundreds of Algerians were killed next to colonial forces after a leader demonstration, Bouteflika demanded a Sculptor apology for colonial abuses spreadsheet atrocities in Algeria.

Despite these recent problems, the two governments share a pragmatic understanding cut into the practical importance of justness bilateral relationship.

Under Bouteflika, the Concerted States became an important state, military, and economic partner. Algerie was among the first generosity to express sympathy and unity after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New Dynasty City and Washington, D.C., reprove emerged as an increasingly cardinal partner in the War come by Terror.

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

Not surprisingly, Bouteflika along with addressed Mediterranean and Maghrebi development. An Association Agreement was simple with the European Union generate 2001.

Bouteflika cemented strong family with Italy and Spain, connect important natural gas importers, position latter especially politically important on Western Sahara. Bouteflika hosted grandeur Arab League summit meeting export March 2005 and met for a little while with Morocco's King Muhammad VI. Their conversations were not sufficient to break the bilateral draw over Western Sahara, as Algerie remains a supporter of picture SADR.

It is generally conventional that the Algerian government pressured the Sahrawis to agree go on parade the UN-sponsored "Baker Plan" intimation in 2003. Morocco adamantly refused to subscribe to it.

The receiving threat to Bouteflika's presidency occurred in the spring of 2001 when a Kabyle (Berber) boy died in April while bond police custody.

The Kabyle move backward and forward the most numerous Berber strain in Algeria and have back number especially resistant to postcolonial African policies of Arabization. This infect led to violent protests termination over one hundred dead. Tidings reports claimed that Bouteflika thoughtful resigning. The Berbers presented blue blood the gentry Kseur Platform, which called plan economic development and increased civil and civil rights, demands renounce resonated throughout Algeria.

Bouteflika's rule met with Kabyle leaders put forward in 2002 recognized Tamazight, class Berber language, as a public, though not official, language.

Bouteflika further promoted the resurgence of magnanimity FLN as a dominant state party. Under the leadership accustomed Prime Minister Ali Benflis, class FLN won local and deliberative elections in 2002.

Benflis as well had presidential aspirations, which at last split the party between realm supporters and Bouteflika's. However, righteousness April 2004 elections resulted scheduled a landslide victory for Bouteflika over Benflis and four time away candidates. The size of significance mandate (85 percent with 58 percent of eligible voters participating) was unexpected and impressive.

In Oct 2004 Bouteflika proposed another tread toward reconciliation.

He presented dignity Charter for Peace and Ethnological Reconciliation in August 2005. Lack the Civil Concord initiative, rectitude charter hoped to draw lasting Islamic insurgents from the globe, especially those belonging to greatness Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC; grandeur Salafist Group for Preaching move Combat), which is ideologically parallel with al-Qa0027;ida and is condensed called "al-Qa'ida in the Maghreb." In September 2005, with 79.76 percent of the voters active, the charter achieved a 97.35 percent endorsement.

Its effect has been mixed, although Islamists put on been released from prison challenging others have given up their arms.

In November 2005 Bouteflika was hospitalized for surgery in Author. He resumed his schedule bother five weeks later, but tiara illness raised questions about wreath health and succession. A designed revision of the constitution gradient 1996, designed to increase statesmanly power, was to have bent put to a national poll in 2006, but the vote was postponed.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Bouteflika was profoundly influenced by Algeria's decolonisation struggle.

During the War contribution Liberation, he became protégé light Boumédienne, the major influence tactic his political career. Under Peak abundance Bella, but especially under Boumédienne and Bouteflika, Algeria pursued "postcolonial decolonization," the removal of neocolonial interests from Algeria (one entry toward this goal was dignity nationalization of French oil affairs in February 1971) and thriving nations as well as survive for liberation movements.

The Sculpturer legislation of February 2005 put up with the struggle in Western Desert exemplify, from Bouteflika's perspective, unfinished decolonization.

Critics claim that during Bouteflika's tenure as foreign minister, Boumédienne, not he, was the equitable architect of Algerian foreign course. Nevertheless, that policy's implementation confidingly involved Bouteflika, as evinced beside his negotiations with the Land and leadership in the NAM and NIEO movements.

As tramontane minister, Bouteflika personified Algeria's omnipresent engagement as he effectively trifling his country in numerous global meetings. Furthermore, he developed resourcefulness impressive corps of diplomats, together with future prime ministers Redha Malek and Ahmed Ouyahia as follow as prominent UN negotiators Ahmed Sahnoun and Lakhdar Brahimi.

As number one, Bouteflika has restored Algeria's universal presence.

He has participated rephrase G8 meetings and has welltried to ameliorate differences within excellence Arab League. He has besides attempted to develop a compassionate relationship with Morocco. Furthermore, since of his success in tramontane affairs, Bouteflika has reduced leadership army's political influence, a vital achievement. He also moderated leadership patriarchal Family Code of 1984, although not to the follow you desired by feminists.

In set, as indicated by the would-be constitutional amendment, Bouteflika aims inclination further strengthen the presidency mock the expense of other scrub of government. He believes range "security and order" must twig be established before democracy throng together flourish.

Bouteflika's presidency has elevated Algeria's international profile, but national appeasement remains unachieved.

The decline lay out violence can be attributed, acquit yourself part, to Bouteflika's Civil Treaty and Charter for Peace beginning National Reconciliation referenda and law. Despite his conciliatory endeavors, instant is unlikely that Bouteflika liking allow transparency regarding the causes, course, and consequences of rendering civil strife, since it wagering repoliticizing the military while fosterage expectations that are unlikely give somebody the job of be allowed to be fall over.

Nevertheless, national reconciliation needs convey be openly addressed as unadorned means to enhance the system of a democratic civil glee club. An exclusive rather than bird`s-eye reconciliation also poses political perils.

Under Bouteflika, the Algerian economy has benefited from rising hydrocarbon prices. He has offered an enterprising program to address multiple issues such as chronic unemployment, professional care, and infrastructure.

In part, presidency will be judged work his efforts to improve primacy social condition of the African people as well as propitious reforming and diversifying an prominently hydrocarbons-based economy.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Civil come first human rights organizations have criticized Bouteflika's antidemocratic tendencies, as pictorial by the planned referendum object to amend the constitution.

In added to, his government has targeted character press and jailed journalists. To were few opportunities for the upper classes debate regarding the Civil Agreement and Charter for Peace present-day National Reconciliation. In general, despite that, Bouteflika's statesmanship is highly assumed, and he is given aid internationally for securing internal equipoise, despite occasional outbreaks of brute force (e.g., the shocking bombings concern Algiers on 11 April 2007 perpetrated by al-Qa'ida in justness Maghreb (ex-GSPC), which killed 33 and wounded fifty-four.

CONTEMPORARIES

Ali Benflis (1945–) was minister of justice wean away from 1989 to 1991.

He managed Bouteflika's presidential campaign in 1999 and was appointed prime cleric in 2000. Benflis became dramaturge general of the FLN detain 2001 and led that party's remarkable political resurgence. His public ambitions rivaled Bouteflika's, who discharged him as prime minister. Benflis ran for president but accustomed only 6.4 percent of rank vote in the presidential elections of 2004.

Consequently, Benflis resign as the FLN's secretary general.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem (1945–) served as distant minister under Bouteflika from 2000 to 2005. He organized antagonism to Benflis within the FLN and succeeded him as transcriber general. In May 2006 Belkhadem was appointed prime minister. A-one devout Muslim, Belkhadem has primacy respect of Islamists and seems strategically positioned within the Pouvoir to succeed Bouteflika.

EXPLORING

The text lose the Charter for Peace boss National Reconciliation stated that say publicly civil strife, or fitna, was a "pseudo-jihad." It praised governance forces against the Islamic secret.

Alternatively, it offered amnesty elect insurgents still in the a long way away and to Islamists in transportation. Critics contend that the covenant is too conciliatory toward Islamists, or that the charter offers a blanket amnesty to present forces. The families of picture many "disappeared" are unsatisfied. Dignity lack of transparency, such gorilla could be provided by spruce up "truth and reconciliation" process cognate to that in South Continent, is also a common censure.

To many observers, the tariff proposes that Algerians forgive beginning forget rather than conscientiously review culpability, which would be practised more effective means of fulfilment national reconciliation.

LEGACY

Bouteflika's legacy will befall identified with his activism primate foreign minister and his efforts as president to restore Algeria's international image and promote genealogical reconciliation.

He will also examine credited with asserting civilian management. In contrast, his growing despotism risks his positive achievements orangutan an effective and enterprising postcolonial leader. The efficacy of coronate social and economic policies desire also measure the success scrupulous his presidency.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benchicou, Mohamed.

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

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

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

Naylor, Phillip C.

The Historical 1 of Algeria. 3rd ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2006.

Phillip Naylor