Latest news with #Tebboune
Morocco World
a day ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Cocaine Case: Abdelmajid Tebboune's Son Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Rabat – Algeria is once again facing a major political storm after the surprise reopening of the El Bouchi cocaine case, a scandal involving over 700 kilograms of drugs and deep ties to the country's ruling elite. At the center of the revived trial is Khaled Tebboune, the son of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was previously acquitted under suspicious circumstances. The move is being seen by many as a direct challenge to the president's authority and a sign of growing tensions within the Algerian regime itself. On June 15, Algerian authorities quietly reopened the case, though the opening of the trial was later postponed, Le Monde reported. Although the news went mostly unnoticed by mainstream media, it is being seen as a strategic move by rivals within the regime to weaken the president's grip on power. In 2018, police discovered 701 kilograms of cocaine hidden in containers of frozen meat at the Oran port. The drugs belonged to Kamel Chikhi, also known as 'El Bouchi,' a real estate developer turned drug trafficker. The case quickly became a national scandal. Tebboune's son was linked to the case and accused of serious crimes, including corruption, abuse of power, and receiving illegal gifts. But after Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected president in December 2019, the case against his son seemed to disappear. The president's son received special treatment in prison, with reports describing his cell in El Harrach as a 'VIP suite.' He was acquitted in February 2020 under suspicious circumstances, in what critics described as a show trial meant to clear his name. The court dropped several charges, and the case was buried. Or so it seemed. Now, five years later, the reopening of the El Bouchi case is being seen as a direct challenge to President Tebboune. However, no new date has been set for the trial, and the lack of clarity has raised eyebrows Some believe that rival factions inside Algeria's leadership are using the case to put pressure on Tebboune, especially with rumors of internal power struggles. His presidency, which was once marketed as a fresh start after Bouteflika, has instead been marked by favoritism and political revenge. In April 2024, opposition figure Amir DZ, who lives in France, narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt by French authorities linked to Algerian intelligence. Soon after, a visa was denied to the lawyer of writer Boualem Sansal, reportedly due to Tebboune's grudge. These events paint a picture of a presidency that uses power to protect allies and punish critics. But the reopening of the El Bouchi trial may be starting to expose this reality. Tags: Abdelmajid TebbouneAlgerianCocaine
Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Algerian President receives Oman's Minister of Commerce
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Algiers, Algeria – President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria received Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, in Algiers on Monday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the official inauguration of the 56th Algiers International Fair, where the Sultanate of Oman is participating as Guest of Honour. During the meeting, Yousef conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to President Tebboune, along with His Majesty's sincere wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and people of Algeria. President Tebboune, in turn, requested the minister to convey his greetings and appreciation to His Majesty the Sultan, expressing his gratitude for Oman's distinguished participation in the fair. He also extended his best wishes for further growth and prosperity to the sultanate and its people.
Ya Biladi
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Is Algeria using Polisario Front members to shield Kaïs Saïed's regime ?
The Polisario Front was recently the subject of a phone conversation between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Tunisian counterpart Kaïs Saïed, held during Eid al-Adha. In this exchange, Tebboune reportedly asked Saïed «to host certain personalities from the Polisario Front currently living in the Tindouf camps», according to the weekly Jeune Afrique. Several leaks further suggest the presence of Polisario officials in Tunisia. Since Saïed's ascent to power on July 25, 2021, Tunisia has notably abandoned its long-standing neutral stance on the Western Sahara issue, a position maintained since the era of Habib Bourguiba. This policy shift was underscored by Saïed's reception of Brahim Ghali, the Polisario leader, at Tunis airport during a Japan-Africa summit in August 2022, as well as Tunisia's abstention during a UN Security Council resolution vote on the Sahara in October 2022. In apparent reciprocity, Algeria has provided significant financial support to Tunisia through loans and donations, particularly in December 2022 and March 2023. The Algerian company Sonelgaz also contributes to supporting its Tunisian ally by supplying electricity and gas. Ensuring the Longevity of the Saïed Regime A Moroccan source, speaking to Yabiladi, confirmed Jeune Afrique's information regarding Tebboune's request, stating that «for the past two or three months, dozens of Polisario members have entered Tunisia with Algerian passports». Our source elaborated, «Their mission is to protect the Tunisian regime against a potential revolution or coup, especially as protests against Saïed's decisions are gaining momentum, threatening the regime's stability. Algeria does not want to lose another ally in the region, especially after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and the retreat of the national unity government forces in Libya in the face of Khalifa Haftar's advance». The source emphasized the strategic importance for Algeria: «Saïed's regime is Algeria's last declared ally in North Africa and the Sahel. Mauritania, for its part, has distanced itself from Algerian projects and has decided to put an end to the Polisario's border violations. In this context, the survival of the Tunisian regime is crucial for Algeria, as protests against Saïed multiply». It is worth noting that the majority of senior Polisario officials hold Spanish or Mauritanian nationality. As a historical reminder, Polisario elements, with Algeria's support, have previously fought alongside the armies of Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar Al-Assad. However, these reinforcements did not prevent the eventual fall of those regimes.
Morocco World
05-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Assets of Tebboune's Sons in France Face Potential Asset-Freezing Measures
Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune could face a new scandal amid reports on France's potential freezing of the assets of about 20 Algerian dignitaries. Mohamed Sifaoui, a French-Algerian investigative journalist, has revealed that two of Tebboune's sons, Mohamed and Khaleld, hold assets in France. Sifaoui made his remarks during an interview with Algerian journalist Abdou Semmar. During the interview published this week, the journalist claimed that while Tebboune may have no assets in France, his sons do. These assets could be seized and frozen by French authorities, which would see bilateral tensions escalate even further since the two countries started exchanging hostile diplomatic decisions in the aftermath of France's endorsement of Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. Sifaoui made several other revelations, including pointing out the abuse of power by the Algerian regime. He said that Mohamed Tebboune was entrusted by his father with a government advisory role despite his lack of experience. Mohamed Tebboune also has connections with Turkish businessmen, he suggested, adding that this would eventually land him in jail when his father's mandate ends. 'They own commercial properties, stock assets, etc. What we call financial assets in other words, wealth… both of them have assets in France,' the Algerian journalist said, noting that this is 'confirmed information.' The journalist slammed the Algerian president for criticizing France while his sons have financial holdings there, noting that he not only relies on information from government reports but also verifies and fact-checks information himself. 'That's why I haven't published it yet,' he said. 'I have the names and will probably publish them by the end of the week. But among those are the two sons of Abdelmadjid Tebboune.' Sifaoui and his interviewer then both launched into a debate about the hypocrisy of the Algerian ruling class, slamming Algeria's establishment for claiming to adopt an anti-French policy while their children and families hold active assets in France. This is not the only bombshell revelation Sifaoui made about the Algerian regime's involvement in similar scandals. Beyond the regime's interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, a new comprehensive investigation has shed light on clandestine operations allegedly orchestrated by the Algerian regime on French soil. Last month, French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche reported that, under President Tebboune, the Algerian government has been actively involved in a campaign to suppress opposition voices abroad. A senior French security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the news outlet, said: 'We possess reliable intelligence confirming that Algerian services did not act independently.' This includes attempts to abduct or intimidate prominent dissidents residing in France, such as YouTube r Amir DZ and journalist Abdou Semmar. Algeria and France have experienced political tensions for months. According to L'Express, France is now considering freezing the assets of several dignitaries of the Algerian regime. There have also been exchanges of hostile measures from both countries, including travel restrictions against officials from both sides. In recent years, both countries have taken measures to expel officials or made other similar measures. In May, diplomatic sources told AFP that Algeria was planning to expel more French officials. In response, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that ties between France and Algeria were 'completely frozen.' Tags: algeria and francerelations between Algeria and France
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Algeria presidential hopefuls jailed for 10 years: judicial source
ALGIERS, Algeria — An Algerian court on Monday sentenced three former contenders for the country's presidency to 10 years in jail for corruption, a judicial source said Monday. Businesswoman Saida Neghza, former minister Belkacem Sahli and Abdelhakim Hamadi were among about 70 people found guilty of corruption. Others were jailed for between five and eight years. The three had all wanted to stand in a presidential election in September last year but their candidacies were rejected and they were charged with trying to buy support for their bids. Three of Neghza's sons were among the defendants. The majority of the accused were members of local councils accused of giving their electoral signatures to the contenders in exchange for cash payments. After the sentence, Neghza insisted she was innocent and had not bought any endorsement. She called on President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who won the election in a landslide, to 'study the case' which she said was 'empty'. Neghza has pointed to a 2023 public letter in which she blasted the state over obstacles including fines imposed on business owners as the source of her legal troubles. Those wishing to run for the presidency are required to gather 600 signatures from elected officials or 50,000 signatures from constituents registered to vote. Prosecutors announced in August that 68 people had been arrested on charges of 'buying signatures' for three presidential hopefuls.
