Algeria’s former defense minister General Khalid Nizar criticized army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah over the arrest and detention of politicians and several renowned officials.
“The peaceful movement forces Bouteflika to resign, but power has been acquired by military forces. The constitution has been violated by illegal meddling. Algeria is today held hostage by a person,” who imposed the fourth presidential term on the country and “inspired” a fifth, he tweeted.
He demanded an end to such practices, warning that Algeria was in danger.
The army has become the de facto ruler in the country since President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down on April 2 following massive popular protests over his bid for a fifth term in office.
Nizar, 80, who is in Spain for medical treatment, did not explicitly mention Salah, but observers said he is the one intended. The former minister also did not mention the reason for his attack, given that he enjoys good ties with Salah.
In late April, Nizar wrote an article, in an online newspaper owned by his son, that was considered a huge service to Salah since it was a prelude to convicting and imprisoning a number of prominent figures close to Bouteflika.
He wrote that he spoke with the president’s brother and adviser, Said, before Bouteflika announced his resignation. Said told him he feared that Salah may revolt against the presidency and wondered if it was time to strip him of his responsibilities.
The statements were interpreted as encouragement for Salah to imprison Said, who was ultimately detained in May along with former intelligence chiefs Mohamed Madin, and General Osman Taratouq. They were charged with “conspiracy against the authority of the state” and “conspiracy against the army.”
Later that month, 2014 presidential candidate Louisa Hanoune was jailed on the same charges, on the grounds that she attended a meeting between Said and Madin to discuss recent developments, while Salah was informed they were planning to remove him.
Salah twice described the president’s entourage as a “gang”, referring specifically to Said. Salah was quick to push Bouteflika to resign and detain his brother when it became clear to him that they planned to remove him from office.
Nizar added that Said had clung on to power until the last minute. He revealed that he had advised him that the people do not want a fifth term and that it was best to meet their demands.
Nizar suggested that the president step down, the formation of a technocrat government and establishing several independent committees to organize elections, but Said immediately rejected the proposal.
